Everything happens for a reason, and Margaret Josephs knows this all too well. She never knew that when she accepted the marriage proposal of Jan, it would result in her becoming an entrepreneur making millions. Neither did Margaret know that when they contracted Joe Benigno to clear their house of mold, she had met her future husband. The designer has also become a reality star after being cast on RHONJ. If you are yet to get a sneak peek into her life, here is everything you need to know.
1. She has been married twice
When Margaret got married to Jan, she was only 24, and her husband had custody of his three children. Margaret stepped up to be their mother, a role she appreciated as she became obsessed with Jan’s children. The couple also had their child together in 1996, but they divorced after 19 years of marriage. Weeks later, Margaret married her second husband, Joe, whom she believes is the love of her life.
2. Her second marriage began as an affair
Of course, the speed with which Margaret married her second husband should have given as a clue that they already were an item. When Joe came to Margaret’s and Jan’s house to remove their mold, Margaret agreed that there was chemistry. So they started having an affair and spent many nights in The Bowery whenever they could. However, Margaret knew that it was more than just an affair one day when it was snowing heavily. Margaret was in high heels, and Jan offered to have Margaret step on his boots to avoid getting in the puddle while heading for the taxi. It is at that moment that Margaret knew she would marry Joe.
3. Her legal woes
In 2018, Margaret was sued by a law firm she had hired in February 2015 to represent her. Unfortunately, she allegedly did not pay them, so they sued her for $3,568.73. Earlier on in the same year, Margaret was facing foreclosure of her mansion worth $1.125 million. She and her husband had borrowed over $1 million from Unity Bank and used their home as collateral. Interestingly the couple had also borrowed $200,000 from John Wayne and Lori Ann Sigley and offered the same house as collateral. Additionally, Margaret was sued by Vineyard Vines for copying their designs, and after paying only $190,000 of the ordered $300,000, Vineyards Vines moved to file another lawsuit for $9.4 million in damages.
4. She has an estranged relationship with her step-children
A mother’s love is like no other. When Margaret got married to Jan, she got to be the mother to his three children, who were by then 8, 14, and 16. According to Margaret, she loved them to the moon and back, but things changed when she left their father. Perhaps they felt abandoned, and although Margaret said the three step-children do not hate her, they do not talk to her. As reported by People by the start of 2018, Margaret had not spoken to two of her step-children in more than six years, and it broke her heart. She still cherishes them and prays for them every day, hoping that one day they will reconcile.
5. She does not drink but does one drug
When Danielle asked Margaret why she does not drink during the 8th season “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Margaret replied it is because she is a bit controlling. She also gets migraines when she drinks, and they are so severe that she has to take some medicine. However, Margaret has a guilty pleasure when it comes to entertaining herself, and she calls it “one little drug.” Margaret revealed to Danielle that she and her husband use the drug to spice things up in the bedroom.
6. She and her mother are close
On Mother’s Day, Margaret let the whole world know through her Instagram account that her mother was the best friend, grandmother, and mother that any woman could ever have. It isn’t just about their personal relationship that proves how close they are; Margaret’s mother worked for Margaret’s company for 15 years before moving to New York City. Margaret’s mother was Margaret’s bookkeeper and so reliant was Margaret on her mother that she did not bother learning the password to her company’s website. Consequently, when Margaret Kiss Sr. left, they were left in a dilemma since only she knew the company’s website password.
7. Her take on being a step-parent
Regardless of how much you love your step-children, they are never going to see you as their biological mother. Therefore when Margaret got married to Jan, she never bothered with trying to make them think that she is their new mother. She advises anyone who gets married to a man with children to be patient and try to co-parent. From her experience, Margaret knew that she would never be a top dog, so there was no need to attempt replacing the children’s mother.
8. She is selfless
Before getting married to Jan, Margaret was a dress designer, but she decided to give up her job to become a stay-at-home mother. Margaret describes herself as an empath, and the character can be seen with her castmates in RHONJ. She and Teresa are great friends, and when Teresa was going through a rough time waiting to see if her husband would be deported, Margaret was there for her. Margaret told HollywoodLife she would do anything to be there for her friends.
9. How she started her business
As a stay-at-home mother, Margaret had to take care of four children, and before she knew it, there was so much stuff that needed to be stored away. She dealt with her own storage problems and decided she might as well make some money out of it. Therefore, Margaret bought plain metal buckets, decorated them, and put them up for sale. In two days, the 20 buckets were all sold, and demand started piling up as she expanded from buckets to trays and other products. Margaret consequently had to look for a nanny to take care of the kids and asked the neighbors to help fulfill the orders. That was in 1998, and in 2000, she received an order worth $40,000. In 2002, Margaret’s business made its first $1 million, and by 2012, she was raking in $26 million annually.
10. Why she prefers pigtails
Margaret wore pigtails when she was a little girl and when she hit her early thirties, she thought about reviving the hairdo. She realized it worked for her, and she still prefers the hairstyle even in the office. According to her, she is intimidating, so it helps to put the people around her at ease.
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