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Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi always knew she was made to be on reality TV. That’s why she agreed to do another MTV series before becoming the “Snooki” we know and love from Jersey Shore. Find out which reality TV show Polizzi starred in before making it big as a Jersey Shore guidette. 

Nicole Polizzi before 'Jersey Shore'
Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi | Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for BuzzFeed

MTV is a reality television expert 

MTV started as a network with the sole purpose of promoting music videos. Since its debut in 1981, MTV has evolved into a hybrid network that centers around reality television and music news. When The Real World aired in 1992, MTV changed the world of reality television in more ways than one. Without The Real World, Jersey Shore would have never gotten “Snooki.” 

Nicole Polizzi was made for reality television

Growing up, Polizzi always knew she was going to become a reality star. “I always told my friends, ‘I’m going to be famous one day, I’m going to be on Real World,'” Polizzi recalled in a “Story Time” YouTube video. She says she never thought it would come true, but look at her now! 

Nicole Polizzi was on MTV’s ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’ before ‘Jersey Shore’ 

The first show Polizzi ever did was MTV’s Is She Really Going Out With Him? At the time, Polizzi was dating her ex-boyfriend, who, as the series describes, was a “complete loser.” Polizzi was only in one episode, as the show followed various young women who were in bad relationships. As MTV described it, the series “brought to light perhaps the most puzzling phenomenon of our generation: hot chicks dating d-bags.” 

Polizzi’s boyfriend at the time, Justin, put tanning, shopping, and his friend “Scrotey” above Polizzi. When he wasn’t making fun of her, Polizzi practically had to beg Justin to spend time with her. Despite Polizzi’s toxic situation, fans got a laugh out of her jabs, including the time she told Justin: “Your wiener pops out of every pant you wear. You can’t get mad if my boobs hang out [because] your wiener’s hanging out.” 

Nicole Polizzi also auditioned for ‘The Real World’ 

Polizzi’s appearance on Is She Really Going Out With Him? gave her a taste of the reality television world. Hungry to do more reality shows, Polizzi made her audition tape for The Real World. 

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“I broke up with my boyfriend at the time [and] single, made my tape for The Real World,” Polizzi remembers. Regardless of how well her tape was put together, Polizzi says she never heard anything back from producers. Despite not getting picked to be on The Real World, Polizzi was called to become part of Jersey Shore just six months after her episode of Is She Really Going Out With Him? debuted. 

Nicole Polizzi becomes ‘Snooki’ the reality star 

After being neglected by The Real World, Polizzi spotted a casting call for Guidos and Guidettes. “I went [to the Jersey Shore audition] drunk, because it was at a bar, and the rest is history.” Doron Ofir, a casting director for Jersey Shore, recalls Polizzi showing up in a mini skirt and doing gymnastics, which helped her stand out from the crowd. “Nicole showed up in a miniskirt, and she literally did cartwheels and flips,” Ofir told Vulture. “She was extraordinary.” 

Polizzi continued to be part of Jersey Shore until it ended in 2012. When the series was rebooted in April 2018 as Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, “Snooki” was ready to get back on the proverbial reality TV horse. Sadly, season 4 of Family Vacation will be Polizzi’s last. 

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