Entertainment

Snooki's Fiance Jionni Is her Perfect Match

by Marisa LaScala

When MTV's Jersey Shore spinoff Snooki & Jwoww begins its final season on Nov. 5, both stars will still be pregnant, putting motherhood and family center stage as we watch them both prepare for the births of their daughters. Thinking back on Snooki and JWoww's relationships, in some ways, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and her fiancé, Jionni LaValle, are an unlikely match, but in other ways, they're completely perfect for each other. And since they're currently planning their wedding and raising two children together, clearly Snooki and Jionni make for a great couple. One reason they make sense is because Jionni is a Jersey Boy through and through, having grown up in East Hanover. (Yes, Snooki is from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but her fame is entirely due to the Garden State.) Yet it's surprising to see that they ended up together, since she's a full-blown reality star, and she's said Jionni is not that into celebrity. He reportedly doesn't even like to call her Snooki. The dynamic makes it easy for Jionni to eschew the limelight, but he hasn't escaped fans' curiosity. In trying to learn more about him, I've discovered that Jionni is a great fit for Snooki, and here's why.

Reality Shows Aren't His Only Gig

Jionni has a couple of side-businesses, the coolest being ATM owner. If you were wondering what Snooki and her fiancé were talking about whenever they tweeted about JNL Fast Cash, it's Jionni's ATM business. And there's also Jionni's NJ Fatman clothing line, with t-shirts that say things like "give me a scotch, I'm starving," but that's not quite as interesting because everybody associated with Jersey Shore has a clothing line. It's obligatory at this point.

He's a Team Player (and Leader)

Jionni comes from a family of wrestlers, and he wrestled himself, both at Hanover Park High School and Centenary College. You can see videos of his matches. Snooki has also said he was at one point studying to be a teacher and coach — though it's anyone's guess how he could fit that in between the clothing line, ATM biz, and reality show.

He's Already a Proud Papa — Twice

At the end of this past September, Snooki and Jionni had their second little meatball, Giovanna Marie LaValle. Their son, Lorenzo, was born two years earlier in 2012, shortly after the couple's engagement. Could there be more in the future? Jionni is no stranger to big families: According to E!, he has two brothers and a sister.

Hopefully we'll get to learn even more about Jionni during the final season of Snooki & JWoww.