Dina Manzo
News

On this week's season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Dina Manzo was smack in the middle of a melee.

These things happen when Danielle Staub accuses you of uncovering an embarrassing book and then your sister takes the blame for it.

Now, Dina sets the record straight. In an interview with People, she admits to her role in bringing Staub's shady history to light. A few excerpts:

On tension between her and Staub: I’m watching the show now [and] I’m starting to put some pieces together. My thing is right now I’m trying to move forward from it, and I don’t want to rehash anything. It’s hard to watch something that happened a year ago. All the emotions start coming up and everything, and I think I make it very clear in the show that I really run from drama.

All I ever wanted was for this girl to leave me alone. I meant no malice toward her. I never wanted to hurt her. I never did anything really to hurt her other than respond to her remarks. And things just got out of control.

On her portrayal on the show: A lot of people who know me are like, “That’s not the Dina I know.” Usually I’m very laid back and I don’t get annoyed but the entire time during filming I was pissed off. It was just an annoying thorn in my side that wouldn’t go away — this Danielle situation. So is that me angry and annoyed? Yeah. But most people never get to see that side of me because I hardly ever get mad.

Regarding her relationship with Danielle Staub, Dina Manzo says: There’s no reason for hugs or kisses and there’s no reason for backstabbing.

What are a couple feuds, even those that involve the exposing of one woman's drug-riddled past, when there's a chance for publicity?

The Real Housewives of New Jersey put differences aside and attended the premiere of Year One this week.

Pictured below: Danielle Staub, Dina Manzo, Caroline Manzo and an expectant Teresa Giudice.

Viewers are about to become very familiar with the Manzo sisters.

Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo star on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which premieres tonight on Bravo.

The siblings recently spoke to People about the show and about themselves:

Do you represent typical New Jersey housewives?
Caroline: That’s kind of a loaded question. Do I think we depict an Italian American family? Yes, I do. Do I think I depict a housewife? I most certainly am. There are some aspects to my personality that may be stronger than most, but the fact remains that I wake up every morning and I make the beds and I go food shopping and I let the dogs out and I do the laundry and I am somebody’s wife and somebody’s mother.
Dina: When I think of New Jersey, I think of moms who are passionate about their families. We definitely represent that. We’re not really looking to be in the social scene as much as some of the other [casts] in the franchise. Our show is more authentic because some of those women were kind of forced to hang out with each other, whereas for us, we’d all be out to dinner together anyway — with the exception of a couple. We’re just regular people. We’re not walking a red carpet every night.

Are you prepared for any potential backlash?
Caroline: There is no preparing for it. But I’m a big girl. I’ve taught my children to accept that not everybody is going to love you. We make mistakes and we do things that perhaps at times will embarrass us, but that’s what makes us human. I am proud of who I am. And I am so proud of my children.
Dina: We’re very confident that we’re good people. I can put my head on my pillow every night knowing that I give back to my community and I’m a great mother and a great sister, so they can say whatever they want.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey will be a family affair.

The latest edition of this Bravo franchies debuts on May 12 and a pair of sisters, who married brothers, along with their sister-in-law.

Let's meet all five of the new Housewives now...

• Jacqueline Laurita: Former cosmetologist. Has a teenage daughter from a previous marriage and a son with her husband Chris.

• Teresa Giudice: Married to Joe, who owns construction company. Has three daughters. In a shocker, she adores spa treatments, shopping and spending time at her beach house on the Jersey Shore.

• Danielle Staub: Single mother of two daughters. Brags about being one of the first female American Express Black card members in New Jersey. Jacqueline are friends.

• Dina Manzo: Founder of the nonprofit charity Project Ladybug, which assists children with cancer. Her husband Tommy works with his brother (Caroline’s husband) at their family’s catering business.

• Caroline Manzo: Mother of three. Own sa real estate firm and a line of children’s accessories. Wed to Albert Manzo, brother of Dina’s husband Tommy.

Click on the pics below for larger images of each new Housewife...