Kenya Moore encouraged me to do “DWTS” after jail

Teresa Giudice finally said “yes” to “Dancing With the Stars” thanks to her good buddy and friend from Kenya Moore’s Housewife.

During an interview with Page Six via Zoom on Thursday – after the official reveal of the cast of season 31 on Good Morning America – Giudice, 50, said she contacted Moore, 51, before making a decision.

“We just did Ultimate Girls Trip together and that’s my girlfriend! We had never worked together before, and then she kind of turned up for me against Ramona [Singer]”Real Housewives of New Jersey star told us, referring to Singer, 65,” he called her the mindless “scarecrow.”

“I thought, ‘Wow! For example, I love it! So she is my girlfriend for life, ”she added. “We have good energy together, so I called her.”

Giudice knew Moore would be the perfect person to talk to about this occasion considering she competed in the show with professional dancer Brandon Armstrong last season, following in the footsteps of “Housewives” such as Erika Jayne, Lisa Vanderpump and NeNe Leakes.

“I thought,” I was asked to participate in “Dancing With the Stars”, what do you think? Should I do this? ‘ And she said, “You should definitely do this, you will love it,” Giudice recalls her conversation with Moore.

“She says,” You’re in good shape, you’ll be in even better shape. ” I say, “Oh my God, I love it. It’s music to my ears. “

But Moore warned her that performances were also “a lot of work. “

“She says,” Get ready, “said the New Jersey resident. “But I’m hardworking, so … I’m ready to do all the hard work that I need.”

Giudice, who is paired with Pasha Pashkov this season, had previously declined an offer to do DWTS in 2016.

At the time, she had just been released from Danbury, Connecticut federal prison after almost a year behind bars after she and her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges in March 2014.

“It’s better now because – I hate that word, prison – but I was asked to participate in Dancing With the Stars as soon as I got home. And I remember that I struggled with it – she admitted.

“The kids were still young and I just got home and didn’t want to leave them… I was very torn. But then I couldn’t do it anyway because I had to be on Bravo first [for ‘RHONJ’]”.

Now, years later, everything has worked out and Giudika feels that her casting “was supposed to be”. She told Page Six about the official cast announcement on the birthday of her late father, Giacinto Gorgi.

“It’s a dream come true because I have watched” Dancing with the Stars “, that is, since forever. I watched it when my dad lived with me, with my dad. And today is my dad’s birthday, she said. “It was really meant to be. So yeah, he looks down on me and I know he’s really proud.

In addition to Moore, Teresa also looked for inspiration from her own children. The reality show star has four daughters – 21-year-old Gia, 18-year-old Gabriella, 16-year-old Milania and 12-year-old Audriana – with Joe.

“I started dancing with all four of my girls since they were two and a half years old [years old]. And the only one who still dances in competitions is Audriana, “she explained, noting that her youngest gave her” the best “advice because she herself” has no dancing experience. “

“She told you to have fun, enjoy every moment, feel your partner’s energy and don’t be afraid… just dance like it’s your last dance. Make the best of what I thought was so cute.

The all-new season of “Dancing With the Stars” will premiere on Monday, September 19 at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on Disney +.