Lauren Manzo, the daughter of Real Housewives of New Jersey icon Caroline Manzo, has bravely opened up about the relentless scrutiny and cruel taunts she faced about her weight during her time in the spotlight. As a young woman thrust into the public eye on RHONJ from 2012 to 2013 and later on the spin-off Manzo’d with Children, Lauren endured harsh criticism that left lasting scars. “On TV at 21, people would tell me I was fat and disgusting,” she shared in an emotional interview with People. Now, at 37, Lauren has undergone a stunning transformation, shedding significant weight with the help of the medication Mounjaro. But her journey to this point was far from easy, marked by painful struggles, failed attempts, and a battle with her own body and mind.
Lauren’s battle with her weight began long before her television days. She recalls a constant, overwhelming urge to eat, even when physically full. “I could be full to the point where I was in pain, but my brain was still, ‘It’s time to eat,’” she told People. Over the years, she tried countless diets and even resorted to lap band surgery in an attempt to take control of her body. While the procedure initially helped her lose weight, it came with alarming side effects. Lauren began vomiting frequently—a warning sign she ignored because, as she admitted, “I was skinny.” When the lap band was eventually removed, the weight came rushing back, and she reached a staggering 208 pounds.
The cruelty of public commentary only compounded her struggles. Appearing on RHONJ alongside castmates like Melissa Gorga and Jacqueline Laurita, Lauren faced relentless judgment about her appearance. Her mother, Caroline, was baffled by her daughter’s challenges, noting, “She was working out like an animal [and] eating right, but she just could not lose weight.” For Lauren, the pressure was immense, and the criticism cut deep.
After years of battling her weight and the emotional toll of public scrutiny, Lauren found a lifeline in Mounjaro, a weight loss medication that transformed her life. “I really believed [Mounjaro] saved my life,” she said. The medication helped silence the “food noise” that had plagued her for years—a term she hadn’t even known until recently. With Mounjaro, Lauren not only shed an impressive 30 pounds but also regained her confidence. Last year, she proudly wore a bikini for the first time during a trip to Florida, a milestone that symbolized her newfound freedom.
Lauren has been candid about her journey on social media, sharing jaw-dropping before-and-after photos that showcase her transformation. In a 2023 Instagram post, she wrote, “From surgery, functional medicine (which changed my life), giving up gluten & dairy (sob emoji). I still miss it but it’s been worth it! And of course, my experience with Mounjaro to lose my last 30lbs. I’m feeling amazing and happy to feel like ‘Me’ again. I don’t even know that girl on the left & I’m proud of how far I’ve come!” Her openness has inspired many, but it hasn’t shielded her from criticism.
Despite her success, Lauren has faced backlash from social media trolls who criticized her use of Mounjaro, with some even claiming her transformation made her “unrecognizable.” In response, she took to social media to set the record straight. “I’m 5 foot, 3 inches and 115 pounds. The only thing I need to do to make myself healthier is build muscle… which I admit I’m too lazy to do,” she said in a video, brushing off the negativity. “I don’t look sick, and nobody would question my size if I still looked the same.” Defending her choices, she added, “As [long as] I feel good, I’m okay. I just ate a ciabatta sandwich with a bunch of deli meat on it, a load of mayonnaise, and Fritos. I’m fine. Nothing sad here.”
Lauren’s resilience shines through as she refuses to let the haters dim her light. She’s found a health routine that works for her, combining Mounjaro with a gluten- and dairy-free lifestyle, and she’s unapologetic about her choices. “I get it—people don’t like it, people don’t applaud it,” she said on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast. “But it’s a shot in your stomach once a week, it’s the same as Ozempic. And honestly, I really do believe that obesity and things like that—they are a major issue with people—it is causing mental health issues for me.”
Lauren’s weight loss journey isn’t just about physical transformation; it’s about reclaiming her mental and emotional well-being. She credits Mounjaro with helping her overcome the brink of disordered eating, saying, “This is the one thing—even above weight loss surgery—that has helped me a lot and cured me and mentally made me so much better. And I’m really grateful for it.” Her journey has been a testament to her strength, especially as she navigates life as a single mother to her eight-year-old daughter, Marchesa “Markie” Scalia, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Vito Scalia. The couple, who married in 2015, finalized their divorce earlier this year after eight years together.
Today, Lauren is thriving. She recently flaunted her bikini body in a TikTok video, radiating confidence and joy. Her story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and triumph over adversity. From enduring cruel taunts on national television to embracing her healthiest, happiest self, Lauren Manzo is proof that true transformation comes from within—and she’s not letting anyone take that away from her.