Dina Manzo

Dina Manzo
Born	Dina Laurita
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, interior designer, event planner, philanthropist
Known for	The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Spouse(s)	Tommy Manzo (m. 2007; div. 2016), Dave Cantin (m. 2017)
Children	1

Dina Manzo is an American television personality, interior designer, event planner, and philanthropist who rose to public prominence as an original cast member of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Born Dina Laurita in Brooklyn, New York, she appeared as a main cast member during the show's first season in 2009 and returned for a stint during the sixth season in 2014 before departing the series. Beyond her television career, Manzo is known for her work in event planning and interior design, as well as her philanthropic efforts, particularly through her nonprofit organization Project Ladybug, which raises funds for children with cancer. Her personal life, including a high-profile estrangement from her sister Caroline Manzo — who was also a cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey — and a tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband Tommy Manzo, has remained a subject of public and media interest. As of the mid-2020s, Manzo resides in California with her second husband, Dave Cantin, and has spoken publicly about rebuilding her life following a series of personal and legal difficulties.

Early Life

Dina Manzo was born Dina Laurita in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in a large Italian-American family that included her sister Caroline Manzo (née Laurita). The Laurita family had deep roots in New Jersey, and Dina spent much of her upbringing in the state. She is one of several siblings, and her family's close-knit yet at times contentious dynamics would later become a central storyline on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Details about her childhood and formative years have been shared in interviews and on the reality series over the years, though Manzo has generally been selective about what aspects of her early life she discusses publicly. Her Italian-American heritage and family-oriented upbringing influenced her later career in event planning and design, as well as her approach to motherhood and family life.

Dina has one daughter, Lexi Ioannou, from a previous relationship. Lexi has appeared alongside her mother in various media contexts and, as of 2025, has spoken publicly about her own experiences growing up in the public eye, including the impact of her mother's marriages and the associated family dynamics on her personal life.

Career

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Dina Manzo joined the cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey as an original main cast member when the series premiered on Bravo in May 2009. The show, which follows the personal and professional lives of women in New Jersey, featured Manzo alongside her sister Caroline Manzo, as well as Teresa Giudice, Jacqueline Laurita, and Danielle Staub. During the first season, Manzo's storylines centered on her family relationships, her work as an event planner, and her philanthropic activities.

Manzo departed the show after the first season, citing a desire to step away from the public spotlight and the interpersonal conflicts that the series amplified. However, she returned to the series as a main cast member for Season 6, which aired in 2014. Her return brought renewed attention to her personal life and her relationships with the other cast members, particularly her sister Caroline. After Season 6, Manzo once again left the show and did not return as a regular cast member in subsequent seasons.

Despite her relatively brief tenure on the series compared to some of her co-stars, Manzo remained a figure of interest among fans of the franchise. Her appearances on the show highlighted her design aesthetic, her dedication to charitable work, and her close friendship with co-star Teresa Giudice, whose daughter Audriana Giudice is Manzo's goddaughter.

Dina's Party

Following her initial departure from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Manzo hosted her own Bravo series, Dina's Party, which premiered in 2011. The show focused on Manzo's career as an event planner and interior designer, showcasing her work helping clients plan and execute parties and home makeovers. The series ran for one season and further established Manzo's reputation in the design and event planning space.

Event Planning and Interior Design

Outside of television, Manzo built a career in event planning and interior design. She operated a business based in New Jersey that catered to clients seeking high-end event coordination and home design services. Her aesthetic, often described as blending classic elegance with modern sensibility, was showcased both on her television appearances and through her professional work. Manzo's design work and event planning were frequently featured on her social media platforms, where she maintained a following even after stepping away from regular television appearances.

Philanthropy and Project Ladybug

One of the most prominent aspects of Manzo's public life has been her philanthropic work, particularly through Project Ladybug, a nonprofit organization she founded. Project Ladybug is dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer patients, providing financial support to families and organizations that serve children battling cancer. The organization became a recurring theme during her time on The Real Housewives of New Jersey and remained a central focus of her public persona in the years that followed.

Manzo organized and participated in numerous fundraising events through Project Ladybug, leveraging her public profile to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Her charitable endeavors were frequently cited as a distinguishing element of her time on reality television, differentiating her from some of the more conflict-driven narratives that characterized the franchise.

Personal Life

Marriage to Tommy Manzo

Dina Manzo married Tommy Manzo in 2007. Tommy Manzo is a businessman who operated a catering and banquet hall called The Brownstone in Paterson, New Jersey, alongside his brother Albert Manzo, who is married to Dina's sister Caroline Manzo. The marriage connected the Laurita and Manzo families in a complex web of personal and business relationships that became a central dynamic on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

The marriage between Dina and Tommy Manzo ended in divorce, which was finalized in 2016. The dissolution of the marriage was acrimonious and became the subject of significant public and media scrutiny.

In 2025, Dina's daughter Lexi Ioannou spoke publicly about her experiences with her former stepfather Tommy Manzo, describing aspects of her relationship with him as "uncomfortable" and discussing the impact of his behavior on her upbringing. Lexi characterized Tommy as overly "affectionate" in ways that made her uneasy, and she opened up about the trauma she faced during that period of her life.

Tommy Manzo was later implicated in a criminal case related to an assault on Dina and her then-boyfriend (later husband) Dave Cantin. In 2017, the couple was attacked in their home in a violent home invasion. Tommy Manzo was subsequently charged in connection with orchestrating the assault. The criminal proceedings drew extensive media coverage and further complicated the already strained relationships within the extended Manzo and Laurita families.

Marriage to Dave Cantin

Following her divorce from Tommy Manzo, Dina began a relationship with Dave Cantin, a businessman and entrepreneur. The couple married in 2017 and relocated to California, where they have lived since. As of 2025, Dina's daughter Lexi described her mother as "thriving" in her life with Cantin, noting that Dina appeared to be in a positive and stable place.

Estrangement from Caroline Manzo

One of the most publicly discussed aspects of Dina Manzo's personal life has been her estrangement from her sister Caroline Manzo. The two sisters, who both appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, had a falling out that played out partially on the show and continued in the years following their respective departures from the series. The rift was compounded by the criminal case involving Tommy Manzo and the broader family dynamics surrounding the Manzo and Laurita families.

As of 2025, the estrangement between Dina and Caroline appeared to remain unresolved. Lexi Ioannou addressed the subject in a media interview, providing an update on her mother's relationship — or lack thereof — with her aunt Caroline.

Relationship with Teresa Giudice's Family

Dina Manzo has maintained a close relationship with her former Real Housewives of New Jersey co-star Teresa Giudice and Giudice's family. Manzo is the godmother of Giudice's youngest daughter, Audriana Giudice. In July 2025, Audriana spoke publicly about her relationship with her godmother, noting the significance of the bond they share. However, Audriana also indicated that the relationship had become more distant over time, which she described as a source of sadness.

Despite the physical distance created by Manzo's move to California, she continued to express affection for the Giudice family. In September 2025, Manzo sent Audriana a public message on the occasion of her 16th birthday, demonstrating the enduring nature of their relationship despite the geographical separation.

Recognition

Dina Manzo's primary public recognition stems from her role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, one of the most popular installments of the Real Housewives franchise. As an original cast member, she was part of the group that launched the series and helped establish its enduring appeal among reality television audiences.

Her philanthropic work through Project Ladybug also brought her recognition within charitable circles, and she received attention for her efforts to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer patients. The organization's events and fundraising campaigns were covered by both entertainment and local media outlets.

Manzo's event planning and interior design work earned her a dedicated following, and her hosting of Dina's Party on Bravo gave her additional visibility as a design and entertaining authority. Her social media presence has continued to attract attention, with media outlets reporting on her posts and personal updates even years after her departure from The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

In January 2026, Manzo shared a reflective update on her life, noting that "2025 humbled me" and expressing her intention to approach the new year "with ease." The update, which was covered by Bravo's digital platforms, indicated that Manzo remained a figure of interest to the show's fanbase and to reality television audiences more broadly.

Legacy

Dina Manzo occupies a distinctive place within the broader Real Housewives franchise. Unlike many of her co-stars who remained on their respective series for extended runs, Manzo's tenure was relatively brief, spanning parts of two non-consecutive seasons. Despite this, she is frequently discussed in the context of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and is considered a memorable figure from the series' early years.

Her family's complex interpersonal dynamics — including her marriage to and divorce from Tommy Manzo, her estrangement from her sister Caroline Manzo, and the criminal case involving the 2017 home invasion — have made her personal story one of the more dramatic narratives associated with the franchise, even extending beyond what was depicted on screen.

Manzo's decision to step away from regular television appearances and relocate to California represented a deliberate effort to distance herself from the public conflicts and family disputes that had defined much of her time in the spotlight. Her daughter Lexi's description of Manzo as "thriving" in her life with Dave Cantin in California suggests that the move has been beneficial for her personal well-being.

Her philanthropic legacy through Project Ladybug remains one of the more substantive contributions by a reality television personality to charitable causes, and the organization's focus on pediatric cancer has continued to resonate with supporters and donors.

Within the reality television landscape, Manzo's story reflects the broader tensions between public fame and private life that characterize the genre, and her experiences — both on and off camera — have contributed to ongoing discussions about the personal costs associated with reality television participation.