Milania Giudice is dealing with a lot right now. She was arrested in May on assault charges after an alleged domestic dispute at her mother’s New Jersey home. Now, she’s suffered a heartbreaking loss after the tragic death of someone she loved very much. Keep reading for all the details on the devastating situation.
RHONJ Milania Giudice Heartbroken Over Tragic Death
RHONJ fans have been concerned about Milania Giudice since news of her arrest broke. She returns to court in August to face charges of simple assault. In the midst of the looming court case, she suffered a heartbreaking loss of a loved one.
Milania Giudice’s best friend passed away unexpectedly over the weekend after a tragic accident. Victoria Zardoya, 20, was close to the entire Giudice family. She was friends with Milania since childhood. The best friends even attended the University of Tampa together. But now she’s gone.
Milania Giudice shared several tributes to her late friend on various social media platforms. On TikTok, she posted a clip of the pair lip-syncing to Rae Sremmurd’s “Swang” while hanging out on a boat. The RHONJ alum posted several throwback photos on Instagram Story, along with a message honoring her late friend.
“Please keep Victoria, her family, and everyone who loved her in your thoughts,” she wrote. “And if this tragedy reminds us of anything, I hope it’s this: life is unimaginably precious. Hold the people you love a little tighter. Say the things you’ve been meaning to say. None of us know how many ordinary moments we have left.”
Milania Giudice’s father, Joe, shared a heartfelt tribute to his daughter’s late friend. “Victoria, you were like a daughter to me. I watched you grow up with my daughter Milania. We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone,” he wrote.
His caption hinted at what caused the young girl’s death. “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.”
What Happened?
Victoria Zardoya’s death was a tragic accident. A friend of hers told Us Weekly that she had flown from New Jersey to Florida to visit friends in Tampa. “She didn’t really take anything for granted. She lived life to the fullest,” the friend said.
The outlet reported that Victoria Zardoya’s family gave another friend permission to share the details of what happened. “On July 24, 2026, what began as a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends ended in an unimaginable and unexpected way,” read a statement shared via Victoria Silberbusch’s Instagram.
@milaniagiudice321 my sweet girl my best friend
“A beautiful 20-year-old woman named Victoria Zardoya, who had flown down to Florida for the weekend to visit friends, sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were exploring the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key.”
The post went on to share that Victoria’s friends immediately jumped into action to help her. She was taken to the hospital and died two days later.
Our thoughts go out to her family and friends during this difficult time.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
