Sammi's SWEET Return

She's back! Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola makes a splash in season 7 of Jersey Shore Family Vacation

- JAIME HARKIN

When Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola’s former castmates reunited in 2018 for Jersey Shore Family Vacation — a revival of the original hit MTV series that ran from 2009 to 2012 — the 36-year-old wasn’t interested in returning to the world of GTL and meatballs. “I didn’t want to put myself in a toxic situation,” says Giancola, who was in a tumultuous on-off relationship with costar Ronnie Ortiz-Magro from 2009 until 2016. Five years and six seasons later, the Sweetheart Coast boutique owner was finally ready to take the plunge. “I’m in a great relationship [with boyfriend Justin May] and I’m killing it with my career. I really missed everyone. It just feels like the perfect time to come back.”

What was it like filming the show again?

I hadn’t talked to [my costars] in years, so I was definitely nervous to see everyone. Nobody knew that I was coming. Their faces literally dropped.

Had you been watching the revival?