Dolores Catania is 55 years old and was born on December 28, 1970, in Paterson, New Jersey. The American television personality, philanthropist and entrepreneur has been a main cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey since its seventh season in 2016. She won season 3 of Peacock’s The Traitors in 2025 as a Faithful, and in November 2025 she became engaged to Paulie Connell.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Dolores Spagnola Catania |
| Age | 55 years old |
| Date of Birth | December 28, 1970 |
| Birthplace | Paterson, New Jersey, United States |
| Occupation | Television personality, philanthropist, entrepreneur |
| Partner | Paulie Connell (2021-present; engaged November 2025) |
| Known For | The Real Housewives of New Jersey; The Traitors season 3 winner |
| Years Active | 2009-present |
Who Is Dolores Catania?
Dolores Catania (nee Spagnola; born December 28, 1970) is an American television personality, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She is best known as a main cast member of the reality television show The Real Housewives of New Jersey, appearing in that capacity since the show’s seventh season in 2016.
Catania is known for her warmth, her loyalty to her friends and her philanthropy, including the annual “Battle for Brooklyn” charity softball game she has hosted since 2017. She won season 3 of Peacock’s The Traitors in 2025, and she has been engaged to Paulie Connell since November 2025.
Early Life & Background
Catania was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Lawrence and Valerie Spagnola. Her father is a former Paterson Chief of Police and her mother is a homemaker. She has three sisters, Laura, Tonya, and Valerie “Val”, and a brother, Louis.
Catania and her siblings were raised in Paterson along with her fellow Real Housewives of New Jersey co-star Teresa Giudice and Giudice’s cousin and former cast member Kathy Wakile. In season 11 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Dolores revealed that her parents have remained happily married, despite living separately since her father became Paterson’s Chief of Police.
Career
Prior to her career in television, Catania worked as a waitress and shampoo girl before becoming a corrections officer, following her aspirations to become a cop; she later became a realtor and surgical assistant. In 2016, Catania gained wide recognition when she joined the cast of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey for its seventh season, having previously made subsequent appearances on the show during its early seasons.
In February 2017, she and her ex-husband Frank Catania opened the Powerhouse Fitness Center in Whippany, New Jersey. She was voted “Miss Congeniality” across the entire Real Housewives syndicate by Bravo fans in 2018. The same year she appeared in the short film Breaking Points. In 2019, Catania re-entered real estate with Frank, specializing in flipping houses and listing a Wayne, New Jersey, property in April 2019. Despite setbacks attributed to COVID-19, they continued their house flipping business throughout 2021. In 2024, Catania revealed she and Frank were no longer working together in real estate.
In June 2024, Catania was announced as one of the competitors of the Peacock reality competition series The Traitors for the third season, which premiered on January 9, 2025. She won the series as a “Faithful,” alongside Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Gabby Windey, and Dylan Efron, and she donated her share of the $204,300 grand prize money to shelters. In November 2025, it was announced that Catania would be joining the debut season of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island in a friend of capacity. In August 2026, Catania was a celebrity judge in People magazine’s World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest.
Facts About Dolores Catania
- She worked as a waitress and shampoo girl before becoming a corrections officer, following her aspirations to become a cop.
- She was voted “Miss Congeniality” across the entire Real Housewives syndicate by Bravo fans in 2018.
- She won season 3 of The Traitors as a Faithful and donated her share of the $204,300 prize money to shelters.
- Since 2017, she has hosted the annual “Battle for Brooklyn” fundraising softball game for Maimonides Breast Cancer Hospital, with events often raising over $100,000.
- She was given the key to the city of Paterson in recognition of her dedication to the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Dolores Catania?
Dolores Catania is 55 years old. She was born on December 28, 1970, in Paterson, New Jersey.
Who is Dolores Catania engaged to?
Dolores Catania is engaged to Paulie Connell. They began dating in 2021, and Connell proposed in November 2025 in the same Apple Store where they first met.
What is Dolores Catania known for?
Dolores Catania is known for The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which she joined in 2016, and winning The Traitors season 3 in 2025.
Did Dolores Catania win The Traitors?
Yes. Dolores Catania won season 3 of The Traitors as a Faithful, alongside Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Gabby Windey and Dylan Efron.
What is the Battle for Brooklyn?
The Battle for Brooklyn is an annual fundraising softball game Dolores Catania has hosted since 2017 for Maimonides Breast Cancer Hospital in Brooklyn, with events often raising over $100,000.
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