Amber Marchese

Amber Marchese
Born	8/13/1977
Birthplace	New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businesswoman, television personality
Education	Columbia University (MS)
Children	2

Amber Marchese (born August 13, 1977) is an American businesswoman and reality television personality who came to public attention as a cast member on the sixth season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which premiered in 2014. Beyond her television career, Marchese has been a vocal advocate for cancer awareness, having been diagnosed with breast cancer twice — first before her time on reality television and again during the period following her departure from the series. Her candid public accounts of her treatment, recovery, and the emotional toll of the disease have been a defining aspect of her public persona. In addition to her appearances on Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, Marchese later appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars alongside her husband, Jim Marchese. Her post-television life has included business ventures in the fitness and wellness space, as well as continued public commentary on health-related issues. Marchese holds advanced academic credentials, including a Master of Science degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Early Life

Amber Marchese was born on August 13, 1977, in New Jersey, where she was raised and has continued to reside throughout her adult life. Details regarding her parents, siblings, and upbringing have not been extensively documented in published sources. What is known is that Marchese grew up in the Garden State and remained rooted in New Jersey communities throughout her life, eventually settling in the Colts Neck area with her family.

Prior to her entry into the public eye through reality television, Marchese's early life was shaped significantly by a diagnosis of breast cancer, which she received before her television career began. Her experience as a cancer survivor became a central element of her identity and later informed much of her public advocacy work. The first cancer diagnosis, which preceded her Real Housewives tenure, required treatment and recovery that Marchese would later discuss openly in media appearances and written accounts.

Education

Marchese pursued higher education at Monmouth University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She subsequently continued her academic training at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she completed a Master of Science degree. Her educational background in both business and education positioned her for a career that would eventually span multiple professional domains, including business ownership, fitness ventures, and media work.

Career

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Marchese joined the cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey for its sixth season, which premiered in 2014. The season featured her alongside returning cast members including Teresa Giudice and Dina Manzo, with the season's storylines prominently featuring Giudice's ongoing legal troubles. As a new addition to the cast, Marchese brought her personal story of cancer survivorship to the series, which became a recurring theme during her time on the show.

During her time on the series, Marchese was involved in several interpersonal conflicts that became central storylines. In an August 2014 blog post on Bravo's website, Marchese expressed frustration and emotional distress over events that had transpired during filming, writing about feelings of anger, sadness, and confusion in response to conflicts with other cast members.

Years after her departure from the show, in August 2023, Marchese made public claims that the production team behind The Real Housewives of New Jersey had orchestrated a physical altercation against her during filming. These allegations, which resurfaced in entertainment media coverage, brought renewed attention to Marchese and raised questions about production practices on reality television programs.

In a 2014 interview with Fox News, Marchese commented on fellow cast member Teresa Giudice's legal situation, discussing Giudice's preparations for a prison sentence related to federal fraud charges.

Departure from RHONJ

In November 2015, Marchese announced her departure from The Real Housewives of New Jersey in an exclusive statement to People magazine. At the time of her exit, she was engaged in her second battle with cancer, and the decision to leave the show was framed in the context of her health priorities. Marchese confirmed to the magazine that she would not be returning for subsequent seasons of the series.

Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars

Following her departure from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Marchese and her husband Jim Marchese appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars, a WE tv reality television series that features couples from various reality shows working on their relationships. The couple was part of the show's sixth season, which was announced in September 2016.

Business and Fitness Ventures

Beyond her reality television career, Marchese pursued business ventures in the fitness and wellness industry. Bravo's The Daily Dish reported on Marchese's newest fitness venture, reflecting her ongoing interest in health and wellness that was informed by her personal experiences with cancer and, later, Lyme disease.

Cancer Advocacy and Writing

One of the most prominent aspects of Marchese's public career has been her advocacy and writing about cancer awareness and survivorship. Beginning in June 2015, Marchese wrote a blog series for People magazine documenting her second battle with cancer. The announcement of the blog series noted that it would chronicle her journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, providing a first-person account of the experience for the magazine's readership.

In one entry from September 2015, Marchese wrote about how a family trip and the heartbreaking loss of a loved one helped her refocus on what she considered truly important in life, amidst the ongoing stress of her cancer treatment.

In another blog entry for People, Marchese wrote about her struggle to access appropriate treatment and the challenges of navigating the healthcare system as a cancer patient.

Her second cancer battle included undergoing a partial mastectomy, which was reported by E! News. The procedure was part of her treatment regimen during this period.

In May 2020, Marchese publicly commented on the cancer diagnosis of Peggy Sulahian, a former cast member of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Drawing on her own experience, Marchese stated that the stress associated with participating in the Real Housewives franchise could cause cancer to return, and she cautioned Sulahian against returning to the show. The comments were issued from Colts Neck, New Jersey, and were distributed via a press release through AccessWire.

Personal Life

Marchese is married to Jim Marchese. The couple resides in the Colts Neck area of New Jersey and has two children together. Jim Marchese has also been a public figure, appearing alongside Amber on both The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.

Health Challenges

In addition to her two bouts with breast cancer, Marchese was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which she publicly disclosed in 2016. In an interview with ET Online, she described how the diagnosis affected her daily life and stated that she had come to "enjoy every day as a blessing" in light of her multiple health challenges. Us Weekly also covered the Lyme disease diagnosis, further bringing public attention to her health struggles.

Family Controversies

In April 2016, Jim Marchese was arrested on domestic violence charges. The incident was reported by NJ.com and other media outlets. Amber Marchese publicly defended her husband in the wake of the reports, characterizing the domestic violence allegations as "disgusting" in a statement covered by E! News. Jim Marchese subsequently gave an interview to NJ.com addressing the circumstances surrounding his arrest.

In June 2019, James Marchese, Jim Marchese's son from a prior relationship and Amber's stepson, publicly stated that his father had refused to pay for his college education because of his sexuality. James Marchese started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of his first year of college, which was reported by E! News.

Legal Actions

In October 2016, Jim and Amber Marchese filed a lawsuit against Virgin America airline, alleging false imprisonment. The lawsuit claimed the couple had been wrongfully detained or restricted during an incident involving the airline. The legal action was covered by multiple outlets including E! News, The Wrap, and The Blast.

Recognition

Marchese's primary public recognition stems from her role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey and her subsequent cancer advocacy work. Her blog series for People magazine, in which she chronicled her second cancer battle in detail, brought her significant media attention and positioned her as a public figure associated with cancer survivorship and awareness.

Her willingness to undergo treatment publicly — including the partial mastectomy that was widely reported in entertainment media — and to write candidly about the physical and emotional challenges of cancer treatment contributed to broader public conversations about breast cancer. Her later disclosure of her Lyme disease diagnosis added to her profile as someone who publicly navigated multiple serious health conditions.

Marchese's television credits, as documented on IMDb, include her appearances on The Real Housewives of New Jersey (season 6) and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.