'Jersey Shore' and 'Geordie Shore': see how the original cast have changed

In December 2009, MTV launched its own partying 'Big Brother' show in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. It couldn't have been more successful. Six seasons over the course of three years turned the show's cast into icons of today's pop culture.

In 2018, six years after the final season, MTV reunited the original cast in 'Jersey Shore: Family Vacation'. The success was so great that they shot a fourth season in Las Vegas in November 2020.

Among the cast of 'Jersey Shore' was the legendary Snooki. With only 1.42 meters (4 feet 6) in height, the 21-year-old Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi was a bit shy in the beginning. It was hard for her to open up to her peers, but after two episodes she became the queen of the show and the real heart of 'Jersey Shore.'

More than a decade after the premiere, Nicole looks like someone else. She lost half her weight, went through surgery, and became a cool young mother. She even had her own reality show with JWoww. Snooki's look has changed but her party spirit is the same. She has three children: Lorenzo Dominic, Giovanna Marie, and Angelo James.

This guy, Pauly D for friends, was the personification of joy. Always friendly and joking, the camera rarely caught him without a smile. It may be hard to believe, but Pauly was the oldest of the cast. He was 29 when the program began.

Today, Pauly D is an acclaimed DJ and recognized all over the world. He even played for Britney Spears in Las Vegas. Physically, he keeps fit, he maintains his personal style, and he continues to call out whenever a taxi is near. Last but not least, he is the father of Amabella Sophia (October 2013).

Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley was 23 years old when she made her debut on the Jersey Shore. She was undoubtedly the most overwhelming of the contestants. Her voluptuous figure made her an icon for years.

JWoww is now the mother of Meilani Alexandra (2014) and Greyson Valors (2016). She still has a great figure. Still, it may be hard to recognize her due to a series of cosmetic surgeries. JWoww divorced her husband and father of two children, Roger, in 2018. A year later, she began a new relationship with Zack Clayton Carpinello. The couple got engaged in February 2021.

Mike 'The Situation' was a desired man. He boasted of having the best six-pack in the world. A player, he gave the show a lot of suspense. Jersey Shore's appeal as a show cannot be understood without The Situation.

Mike has had some addiction and financial problems. Various rehabilitations have led him to sell all his belongings, even his Ferrari for parts. The difficult journey after 'Jersey Shore' has been therapeutic for him, and now he is back in top shape.

Sammi appeared so adorable until she didn't. At age 22, she began a relationship with Ronnie on the show that generated numerous plots for its six seasons.

To this day, Sammi maintains her terrific beauty, including some aesthetic corrections. Away from Ronnie for years, she launched herself into the world of fragrances and podcasting, where she gave advice to couples.

Image: @sammisweatheart / Instagram

And this was Ronnie. The group's hunk got together with Sammi too soon. The relationship overwhelmed him and he could not show his full potential in the series. Ronnie was 24 years old and had a complicated temperament, especially when he was drinking.

Ronnie is still in great shape. He appeared in reality shows such as 'Famous Single' and 'Celebrity Fear Factor'. The reality star has a daughter, Ariana Sky (2018) with Jennifer Harley, but the two are no longer a couple.

Deena did not arrive in the show until season 3. She was 26 years old and became the perfect complement to Snooki. They called themselves The Meatballs and always gave everything on the show. Deena and Snooki made some memorable TV moments.

Deena is now a married woman and mother of two. Her face has changed completely thanks to cosmetic surgery. And yes, she still has a lot of chemistry with Snooki.

Despite his young age, 22, Vinnie seemed more mature than his peers. He did not have a lot of problems with anyone in the group, but the crush that Snooki had on him for a long time made for some interesting stories.

Today, Vinnie is just as good or better than he was in the past. He is one of the most passionate TV personalities in the group and has had his own talk show. Vinnie is now a clothing designer, presenter, actor, and, above all, a style icon for his more than 4.2 million followers on Instagram. In addition to that, in 2022, he participated in the show 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Following the success of Jersey Shore, MTV launched a British version of the reality show. 'Geordie Shore' was such a hit that it's still on TV today, going into its 23rd season in eleven years. They've also filmed several specials, like the legendary one on Mallorca in 2011.

Charlotte was the best discovery of this reality show. This young woman from Sunderland had an overwhelming personality. Her romance with Gaz left glorious moments and many people saw them as the ideal couple. But it wasn't meant to be.

Today Charlotte seems like a different person. Surgery and Botox have completely changed her face, while fitness workouts have sculpted her body. MTV made her an icon, and she even had her own show: 'The Charlotte Show'. Before that, she also won 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2013. In 2022, she gave birth to her first child.

Image: @charlottegshore / Instagram

Gaz is the Geordie with the most chapters behind him: 131. During all his seasons on the show, he was dedicated to pick up (or 'Gaz') girls everywhere. A tireless conqueror with a legendary secret power, he said they should give him a master's degree in seduction, and he was right.

He now looks the same (handsome) or better than he did in 2011. In addition, he is the father of two little ones (Chester Raymond and Primrose), to the delight of his millions of fans. Gaz keeps the same hairstyle, which he's declared to be the best in Newcastle.

Image: @gazbeadle / Instagram

Vicky Pattison was, at 23, the undisputed leader of the Geordie girls. This beautiful girl from Newcastle had a way with everyone, at least with those she was interested in, so she played the role of friend and mother. Her flaws? First, Jay. Then, Ricci.

That Vicky has gone too far with the scalpel is a fact. She was beautiful but she wanted more and now she looks like another person of more age. Like Charlotte, she became an expert in workouts and she also promotes healthy food. Her Instagram is a sales catalog, which shows how much pull she still has. In addition, there is no British reality show that she hasn't appeared in.

Image: @vickypattison / Instagram

James Tindale was a rich 21-year-old boy whose hardest job was "to comb my hair". He was a barking dog that did not bite, and the audience empathized with him. Especially when he went a whole season without flirting, despite his boasts of being an unredeemed seducer.

Today, he keeps in very good shape and her hairstyle is always perfect. He has touched his face a bit, but he is still a beauty like a Ken doll. Above all, he keeps that innocent air that won him the sympathy of millions of fans. It's either that or the fact that he has more photos on Instagram without a shirt than with one.

Image: @jamesgshore / Instagram

The 18-year-old from Sunderland was as raw as she was adorable. She would say whatever came to mind, without a filter, but she had a heart so great that it barely fit in her chest. Together with Gaz, she is the Geordie who has the most chapters under her belt: 111.

In the image, left-right: Holly Hagan, Vicky Pattison, and Ricci Guarnaccio.

Who's this lady? Well, that's Holly. At 18 she had already been through surgery, but at 30 she's covered nearly all parts of her body. Holly and her spectacular physique are regular on the cover of men's magazines. They call her the Kardashian of Sunderland. In 2022, she and her boyfriend, Jacob Blyth, got married.

Image: Instagram (@holyhaganblyth)

He was Geordie's fittest and most pedantic of all. Jay loved himself too much for most of the time until in the third season he fell in love and left reality TV. He returned for two seasons, but by then Jay seemed out of place. Vicky prefers to ignore that she was with him.

In the image, left to right, Jay Gardner, Greg Lake, Gaz Beadle, and James Tindale.

Despite his attempts to remain linked to Geordie Shore without being in Geordie Shore, Jay is mostly the forgotten one. In Newcastle, people still comment on his excessively waxed eyebrows in the show, but that's about it. Jay has had to resort to broadcasting his hair transplant in order to be talked about.

Image: @jayggardner / Instagram

Sophie was the friend who was always there. Her father's restaurant was the place where they fed the Geordies every season. Her boyfriend Joel participated in the first seasons, but he had more desire of fame than anything else, and Sophie ended up showing him the door.

Is this Sophie? It is. She's had a full body makeover and dyed her hair and now, along with Holly, she's appearing in every magazine that calls her. She could well pass for a Kardashian.

Scott T arrived to replace Jay and the change could not have been better. His bromance with Gaz was tremendous and his dance techniques like few others. Scott was a continuous joker, but he got into trouble when he overdid it with alcohol.... which was basically every night.

Image: @scottgshore / Instagram

Scott has kept his good but naughty face. As fit as a fiddle, he continues to make TV appearances and even won 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2016 - just like Charlotte had done three years earlier.

Image: @scottgshore / Instagram

Ricci arrived, at the age of 26, ready to hit the ground running. But then he fell right into Vicky's net. Six months later, they were talking about marriage. They never actually went through with it.

Image: @ricciguarnaccio / Instagram

Ricci lasted four seasons at Geordie Shore. After he left, he tried to set up an event management company with Jay. When that didn't work out, he gave in to alcohol and food. Finally, he got his act together and now Ricci looks great again. He has also been on several reality shows, including 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2014. He finished eighth.

Image: @ricciguarnaccio / Instagram

Don't you remember Greg? Well, that's understandable, because he only lasted the first season. Greg entered with a strong presence but soon enough found himself to be above the format and with more intellect than his colleagues. It may have been true, but there was no need to verbalize it.

Away from the Geordie Shore, Greg has been in the news lately because he has put on hair. Many celebrities are doing so lately, but not everyone is as specific as Greg has been with his photos showing the entire process. The look has suited him, although not as much as the son he has with Jennifer Metcalfe.

Image: @greglake_ / Instagram