Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Shares Secret to Marriage: We Have a ‘Smush Room’

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro’s only rule may have been “never fall in love at the Jersey Shore,” but his Jersey Shore costar Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi had other ideas.

Polizzi met Jionni LaValle in 2010 during season 3 of the MTV reality show. The pair later welcomed son Lorenzo in August 2012 and daughter Giovanna in September 2014.

That November, the duo tied the knot in front of family and friends. However, in the years that followed, Polizzi and LaValle’s marriage faced cheating scandals, divorce speculation and more ups and downs.

“Nicole and I are going great and became even stronger together while raising our beautiful kids. HOWEVER you will not see me on her reality show. Being a reality was never something I wanted to be when I grew up,” LaValle wrote via Instagram in January 2018, shutting down rumors that there was trouble in paradise. “I own my own business and work hard at it, that’s what I do. My wife is a reality star and works hard at that, that’s what she does. We ARE not divorced.”

He continued: “For the HATERS I hope this message finds you and confuses you even more about life and for the FANS of my wife and her show …I got your back!!! God Bless Yas!”

Three months later, Polizzi clapped back at claims that she and LaValle had separated.

“I’m still proudly wearing my ring,” the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star exclusively told Us Weekly in April 2018. “We are totally fine. We don’t post our life on social media, but I love him to death and he’s my best friend and he’s just a little shy so leave him alone.”

Amid their highs and lows, the couple announced in November 2018 that they were expecting their third child together.

The twosome welcomed son Angelo in May 2019. Seven months later, Polizzi announced that she was “retiring” from Jersey Shore to spend more time with her loved ones.

“I hate being away from the kids,” she said during her “It’s Happening With Snooki & Joey” podcast in December 2019. “I don’t like partying three days in a row. It’s just not my life anymore. And I wanna be home with the kids. You know, like, I don’t mind a here and there going to a dinner or whatever, but it’s just really hard on me to leave the kids and film the show.”

The MTV star has since returned to the reality show — but still tries to keep her husband and three children out of the limelight.

Scroll through for a timeline of Polizzi and LaValle’s relationship: