Dina Cantin, formerly known to television audiences as Dina Manzo, became a familiar face through Bravo’s reality series The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Her public identity, however, reaches beyond reality television. She has worked as a party-planning host, developed a skincare brand and supported families dealing with childhood cancer through her charitable organization, Project Ladybug. Her personal life has also attracted attention, particularly her marriages to Thomas Manzo and entrepreneur Dave Cantin.
After leaving the New Jersey series, Dina chose a quieter lifestyle in California while continuing to share selected moments of her work and family life. Her story combines television, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and major personal changes. This profile looks at Dina Cantin’s background, career, family connections and current public life.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Claudine J. Laurita |
| Known As | Dina Cantin; formerly Dina Manzo |
| Known For | The Real Housewives of New Jersey |
| Famous Connection | Dave Cantin, her husband |
| Relationship | Married; divorce petitions filed in 2025 and dismissed in 2026 |
| Profession | American television personality and businesswoman |
| Birth Date | March 7, 1972 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Children | One daughter, Lexi Ioannou |
| Education | Not reliably documented in authoritative public sources |
| Current/Public Status | Lives primarily in California and maintains a relatively private public profile |
Who Is Dina Cantin?
Dina Cantin is an American television personality and entrepreneur who first became widely recognized through The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Born Claudine J. Laurita, she has also used the names Dina Manzo and Dina Cantin during different stages of her life.
She joined the original cast of the Bravo reality series in 2009. Her family connections, friendships and involvement in the show’s personal storylines made her an important part of its early seasons. Unlike some reality television personalities who build their careers around continued screen appearances, Dina eventually stepped away from the franchise and focused on life outside the cameras.
Her interests have included event planning, skincare and charitable work. Project Ladybug, her nonprofit initiative supporting children with cancer and their families, has remained one of the most meaningful parts of her public identity.
Growing Up in the Laurita Family
Dina was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a large family. She is the youngest of 11 children, and her family later moved to Wayne, New Jersey, where she spent much of her upbringing.
Her family connections became an important part of her television story. Her sister Caroline Manzo also appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, while her brother Chris Laurita and sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita were connected to the wider cast and its storylines.
These relationships helped place Dina at the centre of the show’s early family dynamics. However, her identity was not limited to being a member of a well-known reality television family. Her later work in event planning and charitable projects gave her an independent professional profile.
How Dina Cantin Became Famous on The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Dina joined The Real Housewives of New Jersey when it premiered in 2009. The series followed the personal and family lives of women in New Jersey, combining social events, friendships, family disagreements and business activities.
She appeared as an original main cast member during the first two seasons. After leaving the show, she made a guest appearance during its fourth season and returned as a main cast member for season six in 2014.
Her presence was closely connected to the Manzo and Laurita families, whose relationships became a major part of the programme. Dina’s decision to leave the series again in 2015 coincided with her move to California. She explained in later interviews that returning to the show no longer suited her life and circumstances.
Dina’s Party: Her Work as a Television Host
Dina’s interest in celebrations and event planning led to another television opportunity. She hosted Dina’s Party, an HGTV programme built around organizing stylish events and helping create memorable celebrations.
The show allowed her to demonstrate a different side of her professional interests. Instead of focusing mainly on personal relationships, it placed attention on party themes, decorations, planning and the details involved in hosting an event.
The programme ran for two seasons between 2011 and 2014. It also helped establish Dina as more than a reality television cast member, giving her a separate platform connected to lifestyle and entertainment.
Project Ladybug and Her Commitment to Charity
One of Dina’s most important projects is Project Ladybug, a charitable initiative created to support children diagnosed with cancer and their families. The organization focuses on helping families manage some of the financial and practical pressures that can accompany a childhood cancer diagnosis.
The project reflects an interest in philanthropy that has continued beyond her television career. Through fundraising and community support, Dina has used her public profile to bring attention to families facing difficult medical circumstances.
Project Ladybug also played a personal role in her later life. It was at a fundraising event connected to the organization that she met Dave Cantin, who would eventually become her husband. Their shared interest in helping children with cancer became an important part of their early connection.
Glow by Dina: Her Move Into Skincare
Dina also explored the beauty industry through Glow by Dina, a skincare line introduced in 2016. The brand represented another attempt to build something beyond her television work.
For reality television personalities, turning public recognition into a business can be challenging. A successful product line requires more than name recognition; it also depends on product development, customer interest and long-term business planning.
Glow by Dina added an entrepreneurial dimension to her public profile. Although detailed, independently verified information about the brand’s current operations is limited, its launch remains part of her documented business history.
Who Is Dave Cantin?
Dave Cantin is an American entrepreneur known for his work in the automotive industry. He founded the Dave Cantin Group, a company focused on automotive mergers and acquisitions, and has also been associated with philanthropic work supporting children with cancer.
His connection with Dina began through Project Ladybug. They met at a fundraising event in 2014 and developed a relationship around shared interests, including charitable work. Their relationship eventually led to marriage and a new chapter in Dina’s life away from New Jersey television.
Dave is not primarily known as a reality television personality. His professional identity is connected to business, automotive transactions and philanthropy. His relationship with Dina nevertheless brought him into public attention, particularly following the serious legal case involving Dina’s former husband.
Dina Cantin and Dave Cantin’s Marriage
Dina and Dave married in June 2017, according to Dina’s public account and reporting about their relationship. She later shared details of their anniversary celebrations and described their partnership in affectionate social media posts.
Their relationship developed after Dina’s separation and divorce from Thomas Manzo. The couple also faced a serious incident in 2015, when Dave was assaulted at a New Jersey property. The criminal case later became a major news story because of the involvement of Dina’s former husband.
In 2025, Dina and Dave filed legal petitions relating to separation and divorce. Their filings gave different accounts of certain details, including the date of their marriage. By March 2026, reports said they had asked for their respective divorce petitions to be dismissed after taking steps toward resolving their issues privately. As a result, the latest available reporting indicates that they reconciled rather than completed a divorce.
Her Previous Marriage to Thomas Manzo
Before marrying Dave Cantin, Dina was married to Thomas Manzo, commonly known as Tommy Manzo. Their wedding took place in 2007 and was featured on the VH1 programme My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding.
The marriage later experienced difficulties, and the couple separated in 2012. Their divorce was finalized in 2016. Thomas was also connected to the Manzo family business, The Brownstone, a catering and event venue in Paterson, New Jersey.
The end of the marriage became particularly significant in light of later criminal proceedings involving Dave Cantin. Dina’s former marriage remained a subject of public attention because of the legal case, although her own professional identity and charitable work continued separately.
The Legal Case Involving Her Former Husband
One of the most serious events connected to Dina’s personal life was the 2015 assault on Dave Cantin. Federal prosecutors alleged that Thomas Manzo arranged for John Perna, a member of the Lucchese crime family, to attack Cantin. In return, prosecutors said, Perna received a discounted wedding reception at The Brownstone.
Perna pleaded guilty to the assault in 2020. Thomas Manzo was later convicted on federal charges connected to arranging the attack and related conduct. In October 2024, he received an 84-month prison sentence.
The case attracted extensive media coverage because it involved a reality television figure, a family dispute and organized crime. It is important to distinguish the court-established criminal findings from speculation about Dina’s personal experiences or feelings.
Dina Cantin’s Daughter and Family Life
Dina has one daughter, Lexi Ioannou, from a previous relationship. Lexi has occasionally appeared in public updates shared by her mother, although Dina generally avoids making every aspect of her daughter’s life part of her television profile.
Their mother-daughter relationship has remained an important part of Dina’s life after leaving The Real Housewives of New Jersey. In 2024, Bravo reported on their trip to Provence, France, showing that they continued to spend time together.
Dina is also known for her former friendship with Teresa Giudice. She became the godmother of Teresa’s youngest daughter, Audriana, creating a family connection that extended beyond their work on reality television.
Why Dina Left New Jersey and Moved to California
Dina’s move to California in 2015 marked a major change in her public life. After years of being associated with New Jersey and its reality television scene, she chose to build a quieter routine on the West Coast.
Her relocation was one reason she did not continue as a regular cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. In later years, she was reported to have lived in California with Dave, spending time in areas including Montecito.
The move also gave her more distance from the television environment that first made her famous. She continued sharing occasional personal updates, but her public presence became less focused on weekly reality television appearances.
Dina Cantin’s Net Worth and Business Income
There is no authoritative public record confirming Dina Cantin’s current net worth. Various entertainment websites publish estimates, but these figures are not supported by verified financial statements and should not be treated as established facts.
Her known professional activities include reality television, hosting Dina’s Party, launching Glow by Dina and working with Project Ladybug. These activities demonstrate several sources of professional and public engagement, but they do not provide enough information to calculate her personal wealth.
It is also important to separate charitable fundraising from personal income. Money raised or distributed through a nonprofit organization does not automatically represent the founder’s private assets.
Where Is Dina Cantin Today?
Dina has largely stepped away from regular reality television appearances. Her life has centred more on personal interests, family, charitable work and time in California.
Her marriage to Dave Cantin also remained a subject of public interest after the 2025 divorce filings and their reported dismissal in March 2026. The latest coverage indicates that the couple moved away from the divorce process, although they have not made every detail of their private relationship public.
Rather than returning to the constant visibility of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Dina appears to prefer selective public updates. Her career and charitable projects remain important parts of her story, even though she no longer occupies the same television role she held during the show’s early seasons.
Conclusion
Dina Cantin’s public journey extends well beyond her years on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She moved from reality television into event hosting, skincare entrepreneurship and charitable work through Project Ladybug. Her family connections and relationships, particularly her marriages to Thomas Manzo and Dave Cantin, have also shaped public interest in her life.
Although she has chosen a more private lifestyle in recent years, Dina remains recognizable to viewers who followed the early seasons of the Bravo series. Her story reflects a combination of television exposure, business interests, philanthropy and personal changes that continued long after she left the show.
FAQs
Who is Dina Cantin?
Dina Cantin is an American television personality and businesswoman, formerly known as Dina Manzo. She became widely recognized as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and later developed interests in event planning, skincare and charity work.
What is Dina Cantin famous for?
She is best known for appearing on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She also hosted HGTV’s Dina’s Party and founded Project Ladybug, a charitable initiative supporting children with cancer and their families.
Is Dina Cantin married to Dave Cantin?
Dina married Dave Cantin in 2017. They filed divorce-related petitions in 2025, but reports in March 2026 said they had asked for those petitions to be dismissed after reconciling.
Does Dina Cantin have children?
Yes. Dina has one daughter, Lexi Ioannou, from a previous relationship. She has occasionally shared family moments with her daughter in public updates.
What happened between Dina Cantin and Thomas Manzo?
Dina and Thomas Manzo separated in 2012, and their divorce was finalized in 2016. Thomas was later convicted in a federal case involving the 2015 assault on Dina’s future husband, Dave Cantin, and received an 84-month prison sentence in 2024.
What is Project Ladybug?
Project Ladybug is Dina’s charitable initiative focused on supporting children diagnosed with cancer and their families. Its work includes helping families facing the financial and practical challenges associated with childhood cancer.
What is Dina Cantin’s net worth?
A verified current net worth for Dina Cantin is not publicly available. Although she has worked in television and business, online estimates should not be considered confirmed financial information.
For More Visit Quickly Time