<strong>The</strong> Real Housewives of South Jersey December 2012 | <strong>The</strong> <strong>Boardwalk</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> | 35
<strong>The</strong> road to fame and fortune is not paved with drama. At least that’s true in our version of the Real Housewives of South Jersey. <strong>The</strong>re’s no hair pulling, no screaming and no shopaholic spending. Just five phenomenal women who are making their mark in South Jersey. <strong>The</strong>y may not have their own reality TV series— yet. But they’re proving that they are meant to be watched. What does it take to be a Real Housewife of South Jersey? Read on.... By Felicia Ni v e n | Pi c t u r e s b y To m Briglia Kim Pirrella ”<strong>The</strong> REAL Housewife of the Jersey Shore” You won’t find Kim Pirrella spending hours at the beauty salon like her TV counterparts. Instead, you’re more likely to see her jumping enthusiastically into a freezing muddy swamp, then crawling army-style under barbed wire. This “mud run” is one of her recent passions. “I’m always up for a challenge,” she said. “As a mom, you’re challenged mentally but I wanted a physical challenge. I wanted more than the same old gym workout.” Kim took up running and didn’t look back. But it took her awhile before she stopped injuring herself. “I don’t like to ease into things,” she admitted. “I tend to dive in head first. Eventually, I worked up to a five or six mile run. <strong>The</strong>n, I discovered trail runs and mud runs.” She describes mud runs as obstacle courses based on Army Corps training. “It’s so exhilarating that finishing is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” said Kim. “You feel so empowered and so strong.” Last month, she found herself backpacking through the Appalachian Mountains. “That was another challenge I loved,” she said. “I carried everything I needed on my back—food, bedding, essentials. And it was not easy. Every step I’d take, I’d say there is no way that I’m going to do this again. But then I’d get my reward, the view at the top of the hill. On the last day, I looked across the sky and saw how far I actually hiked, and I was in awe of my accomplishment.” If you guessed that she can’t wait to do it again, you’re right. “As women, we’re often so concerned with our physical appearance, which is why I try to focus instead on accomplishing physical challenges. Strength is beautiful.” Competitive running is just Kim’s latest endeavor. Born and raised in Toms River, she attended business school and worked as an administrative assistant for a builder. At night, she attended classes to get her real estate license. She met her husband Joe at a popular club in Seaside Heights. Technically, they already knew each other. <strong>The</strong>y had attended the same grade and intermediate schools. Kim avoided him because he was a “player.” But that night, they shared ‘disco fries’ at a diner and fell asleep at a friend’s while watching a movie. Even so, she refused to give him her number. “This was before caller ID, so I had my mother and sister answer the phone in case he called,” said Kim. “Finally, he showed up at our door. He was so nice and polite that my mother and sister convinced me to go out with him. It was the best decision I ever made.” Kim and Joe married and started a family: a son, Joey, and daughter, Lexi. During those early years, Kim worked for PartyLite, a direct sales home business. “Part of my job was to train and motivate people,” she said. “<strong>The</strong> business was mostly made up of women, and I really enjoyed encouraging them and inspiring that passion.” Fast forward to the Ordinary and Extraordinary Network which Kim started with four other women online. <strong>The</strong>y each did a radio show once a week for about a year. “I featured ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” she said. “<strong>The</strong>se were people who would inspire others.” Kim also created a series of YouTube videos where she shares cooking secrets with her friends—and the rest of the world. “I do a lot of cooking, and I’m known for certain dishes like the sweet potato casserole that I make around Thanksgiving. I had a friend in California who asked how I did all of this, and I said, ‘Here I’ll show you’.” She also spends time funneling her energy into some great causes. “My younger sister, Melissa Gorga, is on Bravo TV’s <strong>The</strong> Real Housewives of New Jersey,” she said, “and as a result, my sister Lysa and I have been on camera. Through that, I have met some great people.” Among those Kim has met is <strong>Boardwalk</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> Publisher James Leonard Jr., who also works as Melissa Gorga’s attorney. “I don’t think you could find three sisters as dedicated to one another as Kim, Lysa and Melissa are,” said Leonard. “<strong>The</strong>y have a keen awareness of what being a family is all about.” Kim was asked to host of a breast cancer awareness fundraiser at Rab’s Country Lanes in Staten Island. In true “Kim” style, she jumped at the chance to make a difference—and she did. <strong>The</strong>y raised over $66,000. She counts it among her greatest accomplishments to date. But knowing her, she’s only just begun. Favorite day of the week: Sunday! We’re a large Italian family and we always spend Sundays together—in the winter watching football and eating macaroni and gravy and in the summer at barbecues by the pool! Favorite place I’ve traveled: <strong>The</strong> Napa Valley; It was a trip to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and it was just so beautiful there. We got a finer appreciation of the boutique wineries and my husband also acquired a taste for wine! What I like about living in South Jersey: We’re five miles from the beach, 40 minutes from Atlantic City and an hour and a half from Philly. One thing on my bucket list: Travel! I’m dying to go to Europe: Italy, Greece, France, and Spain! 36 | <strong>The</strong> <strong>Boardwalk</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> | December 2012 December 2012 | <strong>The</strong> <strong>Boardwalk</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> | 37
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