Milania Giudice Gets Tattoo in Honor of Childhood Friend Who Died Suddenly at Age 20

NEED TO KNOW

• Milania Giudice shared a tattoo she got in honor of her childhood friend Victoria Zardoya, who died suddenly at age 20

• “Always my baby V,” Milania wrote

• Victoria Zardoya died after a fall at a Florida tourist spot

Milania Giudice is honoring her childhood friend after her sudden death.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 20, took to Instagram Stories on Monday, Aug. 3, to share a tribute to her friend Victoria Zardoya, who died last week at age 20. In the photo, Milania shows off a tattoo on her wrist with the words “Baby V” written in script. “Always my baby V,” she wrote over the image.

An Instagram post shared on July 26 by Victoria Silberbusch, which Milania reposted on her Instagram Stories, revealed that Victoria died during a trip to Egmont Key, an island off the coast of Tampa Bay, Fla. Per Silberbusch, the information was shared “at the request of Victoria Zardoya’s family.”

Calling it a “terrible & tragic accident,” Silberbusch recalled what she “personally experienced” on July 24, when Victoria “sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were all exploring the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key.”

Milania Giudice on Instagram.
Credit: Milania Giudice/Instagram

“At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level. We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed. We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911,” Silberbusch said. “Friends back at the boats launched flares to help first responders locate us as quickly as possible, and additional calls were made to communicate just how urgent the situation was.”

“Everyone did everything they possibly could to help. Her injuries from the fall were brutal,” Silberbusch continued.

Victoria died from injuries sustained in the fall on July 26, after she was transported to a hospital by helicopter from the island.

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Milania, her parents, Joe Giudice and Teresa Giudice, and sisters Gia Giudice and Audriana Giudice, all shared messages on social media paying tribute to Victoria.

“There are no words in any language that could ever describe losing you. I still wait for your name to pop up on my phone, I still expect to hear your laugh, and I still catch myself wanting to tell you something. My heart keeps forgetting what my mind already knows,” Milania wrote in an Instagram caption alongside a carousel of photos of herself and Victoria.

She concluded the post saying, “Forever my best friend. Forever my sister. Forever my Victoria. 🤍🕊️ We had one hell of a ride, kid. ✨”

Victoria Zardoya and Milania Giudice.
Credit: Milania Giudice/Instagram

Milania’s dad, Joe, shared a tribute to Victoria on Instagram, writing that she was “like a daughter to me” after he watched her grow up alongside his daughter.

“We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone,” he wrote. “To think that a simple fall while just being young and having fun could take such a beautiful life is heartbreaking. You were only 20 years old, with your whole future ahead of you.”

He added, “Victoria, you will be missed more than you’ll ever know. You’ll always have a place in our hearts, and I’ll never forget you.”

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