Deena Nicole Cortese Buckner ( Cortese; born January 12, 1987) is an Italian-American

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

personality who appeared on the

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

reality show ''

Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May Po ...

'' from 2010 to 2012 and is currently on '' Jersey Shore: Family Vacation''.

Early life

Cortese was born in the New Egypt section of

Plumsted Township, New Jersey Plumsted Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 8,421, reflecting an increase of 1,146 (+15.8%) from the 7,275 counted in the 2000 Census, which had ...

to Italian-American parents John (1949–2016) and Joan Cortese. She graduated from

New Egypt High School New Egypt High School is a four-year comprehensive high school, comprehensive state school, public Secondary education in the United States, high school that serves students in ninth grade, ninth through twelfth grades from Plumsted Township, Ne ...

where she did both cheerleading and dance, and briefly attended

Brookdale Community College Brookdale Community College is a public community college in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1967, the college also has regional locations in Neptune Township, ...

. Joanie Maiorella is Cortese's older sister that had been put up for adoption and lived down the road from them. Deena learned of this when she was 7 and met her sister there after. Joanie was seen in multiple episodes throughout season five of ''Jersey Shore''.

Career

Cortese was a cast member on the reality TV series ''Jersey Shore''. Deena had originally auditioned for season 1, but had to decline the offer due to a family emergency; however, she was cast by MTV when

Angelina Pivarnick Angelina Marie Pivarnick (born June 26, 1986) is an American reality television personality who is best known for starring in the first two seasons of the MTV reality show ''Jersey Shore (TV series), Jersey Shore'' and its spin-off, ''Jersey Sho ...

left the show after season two, and

Snooki Nicole Elizabeth LaValle (née Polizzi; born November 23, 1987), best known by her nickname Snooki, is an American reality television personality. She is best known for being a cast member of the MTV reality show ''Jersey Shore'' and starring ...

suggested her as a replacement. She joined the cast in season three, which filmed in

Seaside Heights, New Jersey Seaside Heights is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 2,887,Couples Therapy Couples therapy (also couples' counseling, marriage counseling, or marriage therapy) attempts to improve romantic relationships and resolve interpersonal conflicts. History Marriage counseling originated in Germany in the 1920s as part of the eu ...

''. In 2018, Cortese returned to MTV as one of the cast members of ''Jersey Shore: Family Vacation'', which is still running and she currently remains on the show.

Personal life

In November 2016, Cortese became engaged to Christopher Buckner. They were married on October 28, 2017. In 2018, Cortese revealed that she and her husband were expecting their first child, a son. Cortese gave birth to Christopher John "CJ" Buckner on January 5, 2019. They reside in

Jackson Township, New Jersey Jackson Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the township population was 58,544. A portion of the township is located within the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Roughly equidistant be ...

. In October 2020, she revealed that she and her husband were expecting their second child in May 2021 and later revealed to be a boy. Cortese gave birth to Cameron Theo Buckner on May 1, 2021.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cortese, Deena 1987 births American people of Italian descent Brookdale Community College alumni Living people Participants in American reality television series People from Jackson Township, New Jersey People from Plumsted Township, New Jersey