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 rose to public attention as a cast member on the sixth season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which premiered in 2014. She's been remarkably vocal about cancer awareness, having battled breast cancer twice—once before her reality TV days and again after leaving the series. Her frank public discussions of treatment, recovery, and the emotional weight of the disease have become central to who she is publicly. Beyond her work on Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, she also appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars with her husband, Jim Marchese. Since stepping back from television, Marchese has built a business presence in fitness and wellness, while continuing to speak out on health issues. She holds a Master of Science degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Early Life

Born August 13, 1977, in New Jersey, Marchese was raised there and has stayed rooted in the state throughout her life. Her parents, siblings, and childhood details haven't received much public documentation. What we do know is she grew up in the Garden State and remained connected to New Jersey communities, eventually settling in Colts Neck with her family.

Long before her reality television debut, Marchese received a breast cancer diagnosis that would shape much of her identity and later advocacy. Cancer became a defining part of who she was—a survivor dealing with profound challenges before cameras ever captured her story. This first diagnosis, which came before her Real Housewives years, demanded treatment and recovery she'd later discuss openly in interviews and written pieces.

Education

She studied at Monmouth University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. After that, she went to Teachers College at Columbia University and completed a Master of Science degree. This dual background in business and education set her up for a career spanning multiple fields: business ownership, fitness work, and media appearances.

Career

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

When Marchese joined The Real Housewives of New Jersey for season six in 2014, she brought something different to the franchise. Returning cast members like Teresa Giudice and Dina Manzo were already familiar faces, but the season's biggest storylines revolved around Giudice's legal troubles. As the new kid, Marchese brought her cancer survivorship story to the series, and it became a recurring theme throughout her tenure.

Her time on the show included several conflicts that played out heavily in the episodes. She wrote candidly on Bravo's website in August 2014 about her emotional distress over events from filming, describing anger, sadness, and confusion in the wake of cast member tensions.

Years passed. Then in August 2023, Marchese claimed that Real Housewives production had orchestrated a physical attack against her during filming. These allegations, which suddenly resurfaced in entertainment coverage, put fresh attention on Marchese and raised uncomfortable questions about how reality TV gets made.

Back in 2014, she talked to Fox News about Teresa Giudice's legal situation, specifically about how Giudice was preparing for prison related to federal fraud charges.

Departure from RHONJ

November 2015 marked her exit from the show. She told People magazine exclusively that she was done. Her second cancer battle was well underway at that point, and leaving the series felt like the right choice for her health. She wouldn't be returning for future seasons.

Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars

After leaving Real Housewives, Marchese and Jim appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars, a WE tv series that brings reality TV couples together to work on their relationships. They appeared on season six, which was announced in September 2016.

Business and Fitness Ventures

She didn't stop at television. Marchese built business ventures in fitness and wellness, drawing on her personal experience with serious illness. Bravo's Daily Dish covered her newest fitness venture, reflecting her ongoing passion for health and wellness work informed by her cancer battles and later diagnosis with Lyme disease.

Cancer Advocacy and Writing

Her cancer advocacy became one of the most visible parts of her public work. Starting in June 2015, she wrote a blog series for People that documented her second cancer battle in real time. The series followed her through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, giving readers an inside look at what she was going through.

One September 2015 entry described how a family trip and the loss of a loved one refocused her on what really mattered, giving her perspective amid cancer treatment stress.

She also wrote about struggling to access proper care and navigating the healthcare system as a patient.

Her second battle involved a partial mastectomy, which E! News reported on extensively. This procedure was part of her treatment plan during that period.

In May 2020, she publicly addressed Peggy Sulahian's cancer diagnosis. Drawing on her own battles, Marchese warned that the stress of being on Real Housewives could trigger cancer's return, cautioning Sulahian against going back to the show. She made these comments from her home in Colts Neck, New Jersey, through an AccessWire press release.

Personal Life

She's married to Jim Marchese. They live in Colts Neck, New Jersey, and have two children together. Jim has also become a public figure, appearing with Amber on both Real Housewives and Marriage Boot Camp.

Health Challenges

Beyond her two breast cancer battles, Marchese received a Lyme disease diagnosis in 2016, which she made public. In an interview with ET Online, she described how it changed her daily life and said she'd learned to "enjoy every day as a blessing" given everything she'd been through. Us Weekly also covered her Lyme disease diagnosis, bringing more attention to her health struggles.

Family Controversies

In April 2016, Jim Marchese was arrested on domestic violence charges. NJ.com and other outlets reported the incident. Amber defended her husband publicly, calling the allegations "disgusting" in a statement E! News covered. Jim later gave NJ.com an interview about his arrest.

Then in June 2019, James Marchese, Jim's son from a previous relationship, stated publicly that his father refused to pay for college because of his sexuality. He started a GoFundMe campaign to cover his first year, which E! News reported.

Legal Actions

In October 2016, Jim and Amber filed a lawsuit against Virgin America, claiming false imprisonment. They alleged the airline had wrongfully detained or restricted them during an incident. E! News, The Wrap, and The Blast all covered the legal action.

Recognition

Marchese is known mainly for her work on Real Housewives and her cancer advocacy. That People blog series documenting her second battle earned her significant media attention and positioned her as a voice on cancer survivorship and awareness.

She didn't hide from her treatment. The partial mastectomy got widely reported in entertainment media. Her willingness to write frankly about the physical and emotional pain of cancer treatment opened up broader public conversations about breast cancer. When she disclosed her Lyme disease diagnosis later, it only added to her profile as someone navigating serious illness publicly.

Her television work includes appearances on Real Housewives of New Jersey (season 6) and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.