Mob Wives: Drita D'avanzo 'Mixing It Up' Interview

I sit patiently waiting to be connected to Drita D’Avanzo. I am imagining all the times I have seen her on the phone: talking to Lee, talking to Carla, talking to Renee, and soon she will be talking to me! I hear the connection and introduce myself.

Hi, Drita, this is Chiara from The Mob Wives Blogspot.
Hello.


I just want to thank you for taking the time to be interviewed. We created the blog just for your show.
Really?

Drita seems surprised and flattered. We have been following the show since before it aired and as fans, we always want to know a little more about you.  
Okay.


This show has been a whole new experience for you and put you in the spotlight with media.  How are you dealing with being recognized by the public?
I’m getting used to it now, it was a lot to take in because I’m not an attention seeking person. It was weird hearing my name being screamed out all day. But the fans get so excited, but they have been so nice. The biggest compliment I get, or could ever want to get, is about my “realness.”

Is the show what you imagined it would be?
I knew the show would be successful, it’s something that has never been seen before. It’s as real as it gets, it’s not scripted, I don’t know where people get that idea. They have no idea how real it is. It’s been very stressful for me and a big adjustment. I can’t hide my feelings and I guess that makes for good TV.

Can you tell us your favorite scene from season 1?
The scene with the raccoons because it made me laugh so much. I am all for laughing, I enjoyed it.

Have you learned anything about yourself from doing the show?
I have learned that it is very difficult to put my pride aside. I am a very prideful person. But I want to lead by example for my children, so that is something I have to work on.

Can you tell us anything about what we might see in season 2 about you?
You will see my new life ahead of me and me closing the door on my old life.

You have spoken about working on a new cosmetics line, I’m sure that’s exciting.  Do you have a name picked out for your new cosmetics line yet?
I am going to call it Just Me Cosmetics with the focus on strong, independent women. I have had this idea for 15 years. I know women, who when their husbands have gone to prison, they sit at home and spend all the money. But I was never that kind of woman. I put myself through school and got a job while Lee was away, to better myself. I want to build this business for my kids and show them, by example, about being strong and independent. I don’t ever want to have to go to Lee for anything.

What kinds of products are you planning to introduce first?
My first product will be for lips, called Just Lips and the names of the lipsticks will be after the girls who are special in my life, so of course the first two colors will be names after Aleeya and Giselle. I have worked with high end lines of cosmetics and I want my line to be high end quality at affordable prices.

When do you think you might be ready to promote it?
Soon. Maybe within the next couple of months. My website already exists.

Viewers love seeing your girls, Aleeya and Giselle, interacting with you on the show.
What kind of mother/daughter activities do you do with each of the girls at home?
I do so much with the girls at home. I love spending time with my girls. We bake and make rainbow cookies, we wash the car every day--it’s fun for the girls, dancing, playing soccer, sleepovers, reading, and movie night when we put all the pillows on the floor. Aleeya came home one day from a friend’s house and told me please do not change! I guess I am more fun than her friends’ moms.

Aleeya is a very bright girl and I’m sure you are very proud of her.  Can you tell us about a moment when you were especially proud of something she did?
Aleeya is very strong minded, I always cry when I watch the scenes with her in it. The most proud I was of her is when she asked Lee when he was coming home and he answered, “soon.” When Aleeya answered, “Soon is not good enough,” I was so proud of her, she sounded just like me. Aleeya is mature and an old soul.


Giselle is such a pretty little girl and she seems to have a big vocabulary for her age. Can you remember anything especially funny she has said to you?
She cracks me up all the time! She is always saying something funny. The other day I was on the phone and she says, “mommy, mommy?” But I wasn’t answering. So she puts her hand on her hip and says, “Drita from Mob Wives, I have to go to the bathroom!” even her expression are funny. Fans have actually told me that they don’t like the show, but they love the kind of “mommy” I am.


You have mentioned your family on the show and how your father disowned you years ago.
What is your relationship with your father like today?
My father disowned me because he disapproved of who Lee was and he could not condone what Lee did. He wanted to know why I would choose such a lifestyle? He was hurt. They day he disowned me he also paid me the most compliments, he told me how beautiful I was, how smart I was, I could go to college. And everything he told me would happen if I married Lee, happened. But he has a heart of gold and I know he would be there for me if I ever needed him.

I hope you and your father make up one day soon.
Yes me too, maybe in season 2 we can reconcile.

Does he see his grandchildren?
He loves his grandchildren and Aleeya stole his heart. He is crazy about her, she is gifted and in a gifted program.


Can you tell us about your relationship with your mother and what have you learned from her?
I always say I wouldn’t be the person I am without my father, but I wouldn’t be where I am if not for my mother. I am very close to my mother. She always says, when she watches the show, she never knows what will come out of my mouth, and I have been that way since I was little. My mother told me, that when it comes to parenting, I am just like her.


You recently mentioned you were very close to your brother. Can you tell me about a favorite childhood memory you shared with him?
My brother is two years older than I am and I would play soccer on his team. He would call me his little brother. He is my best friend.

After watching the finale and seeing your pain, it would be hard not to ask about Lee. Before I do, I just want to say how sorry I am, not only for what he did, but how you found out about it.
Thank you.

How are you doing today?
The initial shock is over, but I am still heartbroken obviously. But, I am focusing on work and making money. I have to deal with it, like many others have had to do. So I am looking at the positive right now and moving on.

Can you tell us if you have spoken to Lee about his cheating and, if so, what did he have to say about it?
I told him he made so many horrible decisions and this was the worst and stupidest decision he has ever made. He knew I would never tolerate cheating. Now he is losing out on a diamond while he is collecting stones. We haven’t spoken since. Now he can have the other woman send him packages.

In the finale, we see you go to a lawyer for advice. Have you made any decisions regarding your marriage?
You will see this in the second season, but I am probably going through with it, I don’t see how I couldn’t.

The finale also did not end well for you and Karen. Have you spoken since the fight and do you think you will be able to get past all the things that were said?
I saw Karen at the Wrap Up party. I saw how uncomfortable her daughter, Karina, was and so was Aleeya, with us being there together. So I decided to be the bigger person and apologized for the sake of our daughters. I don’t like getting that angry and out of control. Right now I have to deal with Lee and I need to move on. I have no energy to continue the fight with Karen. I wanted to show the children it’s easy to be bad and it’s hard to be good. It’s not easy watching myself; and I am just glad, for Karen, that there were 5 people there to pull me off her.

Fans always want to know lots of little things about celebrities. So I’d like to ask you for your favorites on a list of things.

Color: Red


Brand of Shoes: Prada


Perfume: My own. I make my own from different scents I mixed together when I worked with perfumes. It’s all I wear and I make it for my friends and they call it “Drita.”


Make Up: I like a little bit of everyone’s line, they all have one product that is great and I have tried them all. I am going to take the best of everyone’s line and incorporate it into my new line.


Clothing Designer: Bebe, the clothes suit my body nice


Place to shop: Bebe


Vacation Place: Aruba, love the weather


Dessert: I don’t really eat desserts or like chocolate, but I love cream puffs with custard filling.


Movie: Brave Heart is unbelievable, and the Notebook


Restaurant: Peter Luger’s Steakhouse, the steaks are great, even though seafood is my favorite.


Holiday: New Year’s Eve


Season: Spring

Is there anything you want viewers to know about you that we haven’t seen on the show or read about?

I have had friends for over 25 years and I am very close to them. They are in my inner circle. The show doesn’t show how much I value friendship.

One last thing, now that season one is over, are you glad you agreed to do the show?

Yes, I am glad for the opportunities it brought to me. I’m looking at the positive things in my life and working on putting my pride aside.

I joke and say, as long as you don’t have to take your shoes off, we’re good.

I wore flats in the finale, that’s why I didn’t take my shoes off.

Oh, so we need to check your shoes before we say anything out of line! We share a good laugh at that. And then it’s time to end our interview. I think that about covers all my questions for today. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and watching you on the show. I wish you the best of luck with your cosmetics line and with the show in season two.

Okay, then, thank you.

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Picture Credit: VH1