Victoria Lenga The Jersey Shore is known for its bustling nightlife and sandy beaches, but it’s also the place where many inspirational women call their home. From singer-songwriters to actresses, many women are proud to have their roots planted around the Jersey Shore. In honor of Women’s History Month, The Jersey Shore Girl is highlighting 16 famous women born at the Jersey Shore. Read on to learn about 16 famous women born in the Jersey Shore.
Alix Earle | Wall
This TikTok star was born and raised at the Jersey Shore. Alix graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 2019, moving to Florida to pursue a business administration and marketing degree at the University of Miami. Her rise to fame can be attributed to her “Get Ready With Me” TikToks and makeup and lifestyle content. Local favorite coffee shop The Rook is frequently seen in her posts.
Ashley Tisdale | Deal
Ashley Tisdale is an actress, singer, and producer from Deal, New Jersey. She’s best known for her prominent roles in Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and High School Musical. In 1989, she was scouted at Monmouth Mall by Bill Perlman, and moved west to pursue her career.
Read More: An A-Z List of Women-Owned Jersey Shore Businesses
Audrey Nuna | Manalapan
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Singer and rapper Audrey Nuna was born and raised in Manalapan. You might not recognize her name but you definitely know her voice: she voiced the character of Mira in the Netflix hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. Audrey was signed to Sony Arista Records in 2019. She’s released three albums and several singles over the course of her music career.
Ajeé Wilson | Neptune
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Ajeé Wilson, a champion middle-distance runner, was born in Neptune. She attended the Academy of Allied Health & Science in Neptune Township. Ajeé specializes in 800-meter distances and has multiple medals under her belt. In 2022, she won the World Indoor Athletics Championship, earning silver medals in both 2016 and 2018. In 2017 and 2019, she won bronze medals at the IAAF World Athletics Championship. As of current, Ajeé Wilson holds a time of 1m 55.61s on the North American indoor record.
Cari Fletcher | Asbury Park
Known for her stage name “Fletcher”, Cari Fletcher is an American singer born in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Cari graduated from Wall High School in Wall Township and attended the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. She was signed to Capitol Records in 2018 and has released two albums. Girl of My Dreams debuted at number fifteen on the US Billboard 200 and In Search of the Antidote debuted at number three on the US Billboard Top Album Sales charts. Cari cites numerous Jersey Shore natives as her main source of inspiration, like Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
Deena Nicole Buckner | New Egypt
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Reality star Deena Nicole Buckner is best known for her role in MTV’s Jersey Shore. Deena attended New Egypt High School and Brookdale Community College. She was cast for season 3 of Jersey Shore. She’s participated in the reboot Jersey Shore: Family Vacation since 2018. Deena currently resides in Freehold Township with her husband and two children.
Elizabeth Yu | Ocean County
Actress Elizabeth Yu, known for her role as Azula in the live-action show Avatar: The Last Airbender, graduated from Pineland’s Regional High School in Ocean County. Her first film credit was in the 2022 film Somewhere In Queens, directed by Lauren Loesberg. In 2023, she was cast in May December as Mary. She currently lives with her partner, Gaten Matarazzo, another Jersey Shore native known for his role in Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Kiersten Blue | Asbury Park
This indie singer-songwriter is a Jersey Shore girl through and through. Kiersten Blue was born in Asbury Park and has left her mark on the Asbury Park music scene. In 2020, Kiersten was hit with a surge of ambition to pursue music as a career. She attended Lakehouse Music Academy and began learning about music production and songwriting. Kiersten has composed more than 100 songs and regularly performs in areas around the Jersey Shore.
Kirsten Dunst | Point Pleasant
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Actress Kirsten Dunst was born in Point Pleasant and lived in Brick Township until the age of eleven. Kirsten’s breakout role was as Claudia in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire, leading to her first Golden Globe nomination. She gained wide attention for her collaborations with filmmaker Sofia Coppola as Lux from The Virgin Suicides and a leading role as Marie Antoinette in the 2006 historical drama Marie Antoinette. Over time, she’s accumulated numerous awards and nominations throughout her acting career.
Melissa Rauch | Marlboro Township
Melissa Rauch is an actress best known for her role as Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Her role as Bernadette led to a Critics’ Choice Television Award due to her comedic presence in the show. Melissa also co-wrote the 2015 sports-comedy drama, The Bronze, where she starred as the main character Hope Ann Gregory. Besides her ventures in acting, she co-founded the pediatric cancer charity, Oscar’s Kids, which raises money for childhood cancer research.
Midori Francis | Lakewood Township
Actress Midori Francis has starred in various movies and TV shows, with her most notable roles as Lily from Dash + Lily and Dr. Mika Yasuda on Grey’s Anatomy. Since 2014, Midori has gained recognition in multiple roles spanning different genres of media, from Broadway musicals to movies, even returning to the stage in 2025 for her role as Cherie in Bus Stop.
Nicole Atkins | Neptune
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The singer-songwriter with a flair for soul, Nicole Atkins, was born in Neptune and raised in Shark River Hills. Nicole often cites her childhood as inspiration for her music, and she grew up playing piano and guitar at a young age. She attended St. Rose High School and shortly moved to North Carolina upon graduating.
Patti Scialfa | Deal
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Patti Scialfa was born and raised in Deal. Patti attended Asbury Park High School and, upon graduating, worked as a backup singer for multiple New Jersey bar bands. Her journey to fame started with her gaining recognition for her gigs playing around The Stone Pony in Asbury Park for the house band, Cats on a Smooth Surface. In 1984, she became a member of the E Street Band, which led to her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Samantha Giancola | Hazlet
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Samantha Giancola is a television personality known for her role in the MTV reality series Jersey Shore in 2009. She was born and raised in Hazlet, attending Raritan High School and William Patterson University, where she majored in sociology. She made her debut on Jersey Shore as Sammi Sweetheart, a nickname originating from her hometown. Since the show ended, Samantha has spent her time curating her growing business, which has two boutiques located along the Jersey Shore coast.
Tawny Cypress | Point Pleasant
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Actress Tawny Cypress is known for her role as Taissa Turner on the show Yellowjackets. She grew up in multiple communities along the Jersey Shore, like Sea Girt, Belmar, and Red Bank. She attended the Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University.
Jill Biden | Hammontown
Former First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, became the first First Lady to have a full-time job outside of the White House. From 2009 to 2024, she remained dedicated to being a professor at Northern Virginia Community College. She was born in Hammontown and moved between Pennsylvania and New Jersey for a few years, even working waitressing at restaurants in Ocean City. Her memoir regarding her husband’s reelection campaign is set to be released in July 2026.
See More: 33 Famous Women From New Jersey in Honor of Women’s History Month
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