You know her as the gorilla-loving, boardwalk-dancing, fluffy boot-wearing meatball guidette on “The Jersey Shore,” but there is much more to Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi than hair spray and sequins.
The self-proclaimed “boss lady” is in the process of creating an empire, complete with Snooki-branded products and best-selling books. Metro caught up with her at the launch of her newest venture — her very own fragrance (called “Snooki,” of course.) She filled us in on why she misses eating at Chili’s, how she lost weight and the current status of her relationship with boyfriend Jionni.
Metro: What made you decide to launch your own fragrance?
Snooki: I get a lot of opportunities to do a lot of things and I have always loved perfume since I was 13. I could never really find the right scent for me. I would even try to mix Britney Spears with Juicy and just try to make the right scent but I could never find it. And just the fact that I got to make my own perfume and have the scent that I wanted, and I think everyone else is going to enjoy it, it’s great.
Is it Jionni-approved?
I definitely wanted Jionni to like it, because if he likes it, I know all the guys are going to like it. So the fact that he loves it and he didn’t even know it was mine, I knew I had it.
Tell us about your new book “Confessions of a Guidette.”
It’s different from my first, ’cause my first was a novel. This book is kind of like a how-to. A lot of people asked me where I get my fashion, or for tips on guys, tips on friends. So everything that people always ask me is in the book.
Anything you can tell us about season five of “The Jersey Shore”? What’s the drama like?
I wouldn’t say it’s dramatic. Obviously, there is going to be drama, but it’s a lot more fun. It’s back to being fun and laughing with each other, because Italy was just very crazy with drama. I hardly had fun. I was just homesick and wanted to be back. So the fact that we went straight to Jersey and filmed the next season, you’re just going to see us so happy to be back at home.
How often do you hang out with your cast mates when you guys aren’t filming?
It’s really hard because Pauly is DJing and everybody is doing their own thing. Jenni is promoting a lot of her stuff so it’s really hard to see each other. What’s nice is when we do go to MTV together to promote the show or something, that’s when we all see each other.
How are things between you and Mike, “The Situation”? Have you smoothed things out?
You’re going to have to wait till the next season, but it’s not a surprise that I don’t like him.
What has it been like to go from a girl in Jersey to a huge superstar?
It’s been awesome. I feel like I was meant to do this. It never got to my head. And if it didn’t yet, and it’s already two years into it, I don’t think it’s going to. I still shop at the same places. I am still the same person. So I just think I was meant to be here for some reason.
What do people say to you when you are out in public?
Oh, I can’t go out in public anywhere. That is what I miss most, probably, about my life, is not being able to go to malls. Even going to Chili’s, which I love just to get margaritas or something. I can’t do it anymore, unless I want to take pictures with the whole restaurant.
How do you deal with all the negative things people say about you on Twitter?
People are very, very rude to me. I’m probably one of the most biggest celebrities that is bullied by people. The thing is, it doesn’t get to me. In high school, I got bullied so bad that now I am such a strong person. When people do talk about me, at least they are talking about me, you know? It’s not really a big deal to me.
You look amazing! What do you tell people when they ask you how you lost weight?
I stopped drinking. I hardly drink when we’re not filming the show, so that helped a lot. Just eating right, grilled chicken, spinach, broccoli, lots of green tea and working out.
Do you like to cook Italian food?
I don’t really like to cook, in general. So Jionni usually cooks me some food. He’s pretty good.
So things are going well with Jionni?
Yes, me and Jionni are good. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary.
