Season 14 of Real Housewives of New Jersey is like nothing viewers have seen before. And that’s not a compliment. The cast was fractured into two warring factions. Those who support Teresa Giudice and those who support her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga.
During the Season 13 reunion, Teresa officially cut ties with her brother, Joe Gorga, and Melissa, his wife. And there is only one RHONJ cast member, Dolores Catania, who can maintain relationships with both groups.
Let’s take a look at all the reasons why Dolores is the MVP of RHONJ.
Dolores Catania is an open-book
It is refreshing how honest and open Dolores is about her cosmetic procedures. She has no shame in her game, and she is upfront about her enhancements. As fans know, not all reality TV personalities are so forthcoming.
According to RealSelf, Dolores has had a Brazilian butt lift, a tummy tuck, and a facelift. In 2023, she also underwent a breast augmentation. Her family, including her children, Frankie Catania, and Gabby Catania, have yelled at her in the past for having cosmetic procedures. But Dolores wants to feel, and look, her best.
And that included losing some weight. Dolores is taking Ozempic. It is a prescription medication for people who have type 2 diabetes, but it is also a weight loss aid. “If a doctor gives it to you, if you’re doing things right, you’re becoming healthier by losing weight,” Dolores said. “It’s a bunch of great things that come along with this.” I love Dolores for being so honest about her life.
Family comes first
Dolores divorced her husband, Frank Catania, for an understandable reason. While she was pregnant with their son, Dolores discovered that Frank was cheating on her. Still, Dolores continued to have a good relationship with her ex, and she made sure that the family’s bond remained intact for their kids.
After the kids grew up, Frank and Dolores continued to have a unique relationship. They went into business together flipping houses. At one point, after Frank broke up with his longtime girlfriend, he moved back home with Dolores. Some of their co-stars hoped that the duo would rekindle their romance. While their feelings may run deep, they are also platonic.
Now both have found new loves. Frank popped the question to Brittany Mattessich, while Dolores is dating Paul Connell. Still, family is the most important thing to Dolores, and her family routinely gathers for dinner, including Brittany and Paul.
“For me, what makes it different [from the other Housewives] is I feel that we’re the most relatable and NJ is all about family,” Dolores told The Hoboken Girl. “And that’s the most important thing to me because at the end of the day, we’re all on the same page with that. Even though we have our differences, what comes first to all of us is our family.”
Dolores Catania is kind and giving
RHONJ viewers have seen Dolores give back in several ways. According to The U.S. Sun, Dolores has worked with the Halfway Home Animal Rescue Team, Angels for Animals Network, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, and Maimonides Breast Center.
“The Battle for Brooklyn” charity softball game raised money for Maimonides Health in Brooklyn. Dolores drafted her RHONJ co-stars to play softball against the Maimonides All-Stars, comprised of hospital staff. After all, she shared her breast cancer scare on RHONJ, and this hospital performed her testing.
How can you not love someone who is so committed to giving back to her community, and passionate about women’s health? That alone should give Dolores the title of MVP of RHONJ.
Dolores is channeling Switzerland
Let’s face it. Being friends with this crew is not easy. Dolores has known Teresa, Joe, and Melissa for years. And Dolores is also tight with Margaret Josephs. Viewers know that Teresa has trouble realizing when she is wrong, so handling her can be difficult.
Then, all the dynamics shifted in Season 14 of the show. Teresa still hates Marge, along with Joe and Melissa. Now Teresa and Jennifer Aydin befriended Jackie Goldschneider.
Previously, Margaret was close with Jackie, but they fell out. This led to Margaret showing Dolores a screenshot of a text message from Jackie calling Dolores “a slob.” Jackie already had a visit from Paterson Dolores in Season 12, so she didn’t want a repeat. But Dolores simply let Jackie know that she was finished with their relationship.
Meanwhile, Dolores can stay friends with both Team Melissa and Team Teresa. Even with all the crazy arguments and fights, Dolores is usually the voice of reason. That is why she is the secret sauce for this group.
Fans are rooting for Dolores to find love
After a snoozy relationship with Dr. David Principe, Dolores moved on. David took Dolores for granted amid his busy career, and he had never had time for her. Truthfully, he didn’t deserve her.
So, fans were excited about her new boyfriend, Paul. The charming man from Ireland swept Dolores off her feet. The problem? He is still married. Paul and his wife have been separated for about 15 years. And while Dolores was patient, she was getting tired of this divorce dragging on. This duo clearly loves each other. Hopefully, Paul will get this issue resolved so he can move forward with Dolores.
This Jersey housewife exemplifies loyalty to friends, love for her family, and giving back to others. That is why Dolores is the RHONJ MVP.
TELL US – IS DOLORES CATANIA THE RHONJ MVP? IS SHE THE MOST LOYAL JERSEY HOUSEWIFE?