6 hours ago
11
Milania Giudice's BFF Victoria Zardoya Died in Tragic Fall at Florida's Fort Dade Ruins
Alexandra Zardoya has lost her other half.
The 20-year-old spoke out on the tragic death of her twin sister Victoria Zardoya—the childhood friend of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Milania Giudice—after her fatal fall at the ruins of Fort Dade in Egmont Key, Fla., on July 24.
"I can’t believe this is real life," Alexandra wrote on Instagram July 31. "Tears are falling down my cheeks as I type every word. My twin sister, my other half, we were in the womb together, and ever since then we have been inseparable. You are the only person in this world who truly understood every single part of me. You truly were a light in everyone’s life, especially mine."
Alexandra shared that she has been in shock ever since Victoria died, posting a photo of her holding her sister's hand in the hospital bed alongside childhood photos of the pair together.
"I still believe this is just a bad dream, and any second now I’ll wake up to you right next to me in my bed while we watch Vanderpump Rules together," she wrote. "Everything reminds me of you. I don’t know what I am going to do without you by my side."
"The bond between us was more than just sharing a birthday or DNA," Alexandra continued. "We shared a life, a heart, a soul, and a love unlike anything I will ever experience again. Half of my heart will forever be broken. It was always supposed to be me and you till the end, Vic."
Remembering her sibling as intelligent, caring and empathetic, Alexandra explained the pride she feels about Victoria's choice to be an organ donor "reflects exactly who you were."
"Because of your selfless choice eight people will have a second chance at life," she shared. "You are a hero, Victoria."
Victoria had traveled to Tampa, Fla., for the weekend to visit friends, which included a trip to explore the ruins of Fort Dade from the Spanish-American War on July 24, according to group member Victoria Silberbusch.
"What began as a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends ended in an unimaginable and unexpected tragedy," she shared on Instagram July 26. "Everything changed in a matter of seconds."
The New Jersey native suffered a "devastating fall" that turned out to be worse than her friends thought.
"At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level," her friend said. "We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed. We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911."
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office confirmed to E! News that its Marine Unit arrived at Egmont Key on July 24 at 6:08 p.m. after receiving reports that "someone had fallen from one of the structures." The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died of her injuries.
For Alexandra, she now vows to make her sister proud and "live out your name everyday of my life."
"You didn’t deserve to go so soon," the Boston University student wrote in her tribute. "You were only twenty years old. Such a young soul filled with so much life. I wish I could go to your room right now, give you the biggest hug, and hear your beautiful voice and contagious laugh one more time."
She added, "I’ll miss you for eternity, Vic."
Read on to look back on Victoria's life in photos and the memories she shared with her friend Milania.
Joe Giudice/Instagram
Like Family
In a throwback pic, Milania Giudice hung out at home with her friend Victoria Zardoya and her dad Joe Giudice, who grieved the loss of his daughter’s best friend in July 2026, writing on Instagram, “You were like a daughter to me. I watched you grow up with my daughter Milania. We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Glitter, Glam, Giudice
Giudice and Zardoya coordinated their festival ‘fits during the Breakaway Music Festival in Tampa in April 2026. The besties posed alongside their friends and danced until the sun set.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
Eager to Embrace Easter
Giudice and Zardoya had their arms wrapped around each other as they soaked up the sun together on Easter Sunday 2026 in Tampa, Fla., where they attended the University of Tampa together.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Bad to the Bone
The pair were all smiles as they attended a costume party in November 2025 with friends dressed in caveman attire,, matching their fur boots and bone-inspired jewelry.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
Pony Up
Giudice and Zardoya wore their New Jersey best as they attended the Haskell Stakes horse-racing tournament in July 2025.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
The Good Ones
The BFFs embraced their love for each other on Valentine’s Day 2024, matching their red tops and posing together with friends at a party. Giudice captioned her Cupid-inspired Instagram post, “Keep the good ones close.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
The Simple Life
Zardoya and Giudice’s friendship was on par with any famous pairing, including Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Indeed, Zardoya celebrated her bestie’s February 2023 birthday with pictures from some of their many vacations together, writing in the caption, “It’s my best friends birthday. I love you. The Paris to my Nicole 4L.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Global Girlfriends
These two were jetsetters through and through and never found a body of water they didn’t love, including the coastal waters of Jamaica, where they visited in September 2022.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Matching Monochrome
Their style matched their sisterhood, as Giudice and Zardoya sported coordinated black-and-white swimsuits during a trip to Cancún, Mexico, in August 2021.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Sisters For Life
Zardoya’s friendship with Giudice was on display yet again in her February 2020 birthday tribute, as she detailed their bond in the caption.
“Happy birthday to the girl who has never left my side,” Zardoya wrote on Instagram. “No matter what happens i will always love you like the triplet i never had. cheers love u m money.”
Instagram/Milania Giudice
Never on Thin Ice
Besties from day one, Zardoya smiled with Giudice at the ice rink in a throwback picture that the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum shared after the news of her friend's death.
English (US) ·