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Before ‘Jersey Shore,’ JWoww Tried Out for a Very Different Reality Show

JWoww says a prank audition for Paris Hilton’s show helped put her on the path to “Jersey Shore,” which would make her a huge star.

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Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley and Paris Hilton were icons of the early to mid-2000s, despite their opposite aesthetics. Hilton, the ultra-rich socialite, was the it girl everyone wanted to be. JWoww, the beloved Jersey Shore star, was carving out a niche aesthetic of her own.

In 2008, Hilton was searching for a new best friend. 16 competitors—both women and men—competed in challenges to earn a spot in Hilton’s coveted social circle. The original series aired for two seasons and spawned two spin-offs. It turns out the show caught the attention of a not-yet-made reality........

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