Gia Giudice on How She Managed to Stay 'True to Myself' While Growing Up in the Spotlight (Exclusive)

“I speak the facts,” ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Gia Giudice tells PEOPLE, adding that “protecting my family” is what “got me the most strength.”

Gia Giudice is starting a new chapter in her life.

First presented to the world in 2009 when The Real Housewives of New Jersey premiered on Bravo, Gia quickly became a fan favorite as Teresa Giudice’s oldest daughter.

Over the years, fans have watched Gia grow before their eyes. Some of those moments were memorable, like Gia’s popular song “Waking Up in the Morning” and her recent graduation from Rutgers University.

Others, however, were not so bright. Her parents, Teresa and Joe Giudice, served prison terms on federal fraud charges in 2013, and the ongoing feud between her mother, Teresa’s brother Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga, has caused family strife for years — sometimes causing Gia to step in and take over stands up for what he believes is right.

‘RHONJ’: Gia Giudice Says Joe and Melissa Gorga Relationship ‘Over’ Because Couple ‘Totally Burned Bridge’

But now, as a 22-year-old influencer and aspiring lawyer, Gia is ready to show fans a new side of herself. In the exclusive debut of her new photoshoot for PEOPLE, Gia embraces her sexier side while reflecting on how far she’s come.

“I think what comes to mind is just being very brave and having a lot of courage, but also being true to yourself,” she says of growing up in the spotlight. “Because I feel like that’s very hard to stick with, especially in this spotlight with all the negativity. It can really get the best of you. So I think I’ve always focused on that.”

Gia Giudice.

kyle braylen photo/@kylebraylen

Of course, that’s easier said than done — but staying positive has become second nature to Gia.

“I think you have to look for the negativity, in a way. I really don’t check my comments that often, and if I do, I’ll go through my comments and just delete them. They don’t really affect me very much,” she explains. “You have to physically go to these hate sites and see what they post.”

“The fan accounts that I look at, they’re all for me. So I’m like, ‘Oh, this is great. They’re blowing me away,'” she continues. “I don’t really look for the negative. Well, I think that’s the easiest thing. If I don’t look for it, I don’t see it.”

Teresa Giudice Celebrates ‘One of the Most Special Moments of My Life’ as Daughter Gio Graduates from College

Gia doesn’t have much time to think these days. After graduating with degrees in criminal justice and sociology, she took a job in marketing while studying for the LSAT. Hoping to pursue a career in fashion, Gia is also leaning towards her career as an influencer, recently launching the Shein collection with her mom and sisters while continuing to appear on RHONJ next to his mom.

While her career and adulthood are in full swing, Gia admits she still struggles with being seen as a child because she grew up in front of the cameras.

“I’ve been an adult now for almost five years, since I was 18. So I always got the image like, ‘Oh, you’re a kid.’ And I think that’s what just made me mentally stronger, want to open my own business, become an entrepreneur, because I never let outside noise affect me and my family,” she says. “I’ve always stood up for what’s right, for what’s wrong… Having a strong mentality helped me create my business and grow as a person.”

Gia Giudice.

kyle braylen photo/@kylebraylen

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However, Gia says that her greatest strength came from simply standing up for her family during difficult times – especially when her parents were serving time in prison.

“I learned to speak up for myself and my family because there were just scenarios where things weren’t true. And I took on that role to stand up for my family… and stay grounded,” she says.

Acknowledging that “most people” recognize that she’s “mainly just here to stand up for my mother and my family,” Gia notes that there are others who judge her for speaking her mind and “being such a big advocate for my family.”

“I think the hardest part is that my dad is obviously not here,” she explains, referring to her father’s deportation, which eventually resulted in his moving to the Bahamas. “My family has been through a lot. And yes, of course, my stepfather [Luis “Louie” Ruelas] it’s absolutely amazing, but I feel like I’m my mom’s right hand.”

Gia Giudice as a child with her dad Joe Giudice. Gia Giudice/Instagram

“Sometimes it just means it comes more from the kids in the family… because this is my life. This is what I’ve been through and it’s my story to tell. It’s my sister’s story, it’s my mom’s story, what we’ve been through and things we want to tell the truth about,” she continues. “But it’s such a difficult balance.”

“I feel like I never cross that line,” adds Gia. “I always respect. And this has been my biggest thing: I tell the facts. I don’t tell anything that’s a fake story. And as much as I’m Teresa Giudice’s 22-year-old girlfriend… I say peace of mind, I tell the truth and that’s where I got the most strength, really just protecting his family.”

‘RHONJ’: Teresa prays ‘every day’ for ex Joe to return to US and knows he’ll ‘always be in my life’

Because of her fierce loyalty to her family, it’s no surprise that Gia would “love” to see a Giudice family spinoff on Bravo one day — something fans have been passionately requesting on her Instagram.

“I think it would be really fun, especially if we could include my dad, and us going to the Bahamas and just show how we really are such a blended family,” she shares. “My dad and Louie talk a lot… we’re really such a blended family and we all respect each other so much. And I know the fans, they always say we miss Juicy Joe. So I feel like that would be so fun to see us all together. I think it would really be something different.”

“I think the Bravo screen would break, 100 percent… I think it would literally break the internet,” she adds. “And I think people would be so interested, ‘Oh, how are Joe and Teresa getting along and how are they parenting together?’ Meanwhile, it’s so easy. They’re the same. They fight just the same. They used to be friends, so they’re just friends 1699596435but not together.”

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As for the new season RHONJGia promises fans will get their fair share of answers.

“I think you guys are definitely seeing a little bit of my life. I’d say I have a decent amount… maybe a little more than usual,” she teases him. “And I would just say that this season, a lot of truth, a lot of clarity, and I think those are the two biggest words for this season… I think a lot of viewers are going to be very surprised. I think this is a whirlwind season. I think it will a lot of people will be happy and, I don’t know, I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

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The Real Housewives of New Jersey can be downloaded in its entirety on Peacock.

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Source: HIS Education