Snooki

Nicole Polizzi, publicly known by her nickname Snooki, is an American television personality. She rose to prominence in late 2009, when she appeared on MTV reality show The Jersey Shore, alongside others.
As the series followed Polizzi and her roommates while they were living on the Jersey Shore, controversy arose around the show. Critics noted the show was promoting irresponsible behavior, such as casual sex and overdosing tanning in tanning studios. More over, the cast referred to themselves with the Italian-American slang "guidos" and "guidettes".
Bio
Snooki, born Nicole Polizzi, lives in Marlboro, New York, a town outside of Poughkeepsie and is studying to become a veterinary technician at a local community college. The nickname that she is most known by was one that her friends bagan calling her in middle school after the character "Snooki the cootchie crook" from the film Save the Last Dance because she was the first of her friends to make out with a boy. During Polizzi’s high school years she suffered from an eating disorder that she has since overcome. The pressures of maintaining her position on her high school cheerleading squad are thought to have been one of the primary contributing factors that lead to her anorexia.
Family
Nicole Polizzi was born of Chilean descent, but was raised by her adoptive parents who are Italian. Snookie maintains a close relationship with her mother and says that they are “best friends”. This closeness is apparent when Snooki found herself tearful at her mother’s departure after spending the day together on one episode of the Jersey Shore (Fade to Black).
The Jersey Shore
Snooki first entered the reality TV scene on the season premiere of the show Jersey Shore which first aired on MTV December 3, 2009. Initially Snooki felt disconnected from her fellow housemates, but over the course of the show establishes a strong friendship with fellow cast member Jwoww (Jenni Farley).
In the fourth episode of Jersey Shore (Fade to Black) Snooki was punched in the face by a man at a bar when a confrontation got out of hand. MTV originally aired the footage as it was, but after complaints edited the clip out. She suffered no long-term physical injuries from the event and the man in question was let out on parole a day or so after being taken into custody.
Snooki’s MTV cast Bio:
“Nicole is looking to meet the man of her dreams. When she goes to the gym, she goes in full makeup, hoping to make a splash with all the toned men. Her height has been as much of a strength as it has been an obstacle, and it will color her summer at the Shore in a big way.”
Media
The show plays upon the stereotype of the guido, prompting criticism from groups such as the National Italian American Foundation, UNICO National, and the Order Sons of Italy in America or using "ethnic slurs, violence and poor behavior to marginalize and stereotype Italian-Americans". MTV countered that several of the cast members are not entirely Italian. On February 2010, J-Woww admitted on Fox News Channel's "The Strategy Room" that she and Snooki are not of Italian descent, and that Ronnie is half Puerto Rican. J-Woww is Spanish and Irish and Snooki is Chilean. However, Snooki was adopted by Italian parents.
In 2010, Polizzi became to center of unwanted attention when word circulated of naked photographs and a possible sex tape, which she denies exist.

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