Victoria Zardoya, a 20-year-old University of Tampa student and longtime friend of Milania Giudice, died after suffering serious injuries in a fall at the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key, Florida. Her death was confirmed in late July 2026, and the medical examiner later ruled the manner of death an accident.
This obituary explains what is publicly known about Victoria Zardoya’s life, education, family connections, death, and the tributes that followed. It also addresses an important date discrepancy in early reports and separates confirmed information from details that have not been publicly established.
Background: Who Was Victoria Zardoya?
Victoria Zardoya was a 20-year-old college student from New Jersey who attended the University of Tampa in Florida. She became widely known after her death because of her close, longtime friendship with Milania Giudice, daughter of reality television personalities Teresa and Joe Giudice.
The two young women had known each other since childhood and were neighbors for years. Members of the Giudice family described Victoria as someone who had become part of their family, while Milania publicly remembered her as her best friend and sister-like companion.
Zardoya’s social-media presence and public tributes also identify her as a University of Tampa student. A LinkedIn profile attributed to her lists the University of Tampa among her education and identifies Morristown, New Jersey, as her location.
Key fact: Victoria Zardoya was 20 years old when she died. The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that her cause of death was craniocerebral trauma and ruled the manner of death an accident.
Latest Update
The most important official update came in August, when the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Zardoya’s cause of death was craniocerebral trauma and that the manner of death was an accident. The autopsy was completed on August 3 after organ donation, according to reporting from Us Weekly.
There is a minor but important discrepancy concerning the date of death. Several early reports and social-media tributes described July 26 as the date she died, while the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office told the AMI Sun that Zardoya was pronounced deceased on July 27, 2026. For accuracy, this article notes both accounts rather than presenting the conflicting dates as if there were no discrepancy.
In September, Milania Giudice also shared memories from a celebration of life held for Victoria in Tampa. In a September 10 post, she said she had returned to Tampa to look through photographs from the gathering and described the event as a way of celebrating Victoria’s life, energy, and laughter.
Date clarification: The injury-causing fall occurred on July 24, 2026. Public reports have used both July 26 and July 27 for the death date, but the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that Zardoya was pronounced deceased on July 27.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Victoria Zardoya grew up in New Jersey and had a longstanding friendship with Milania Giudice. Public tributes describe the pair as childhood best friends who were neighbors and remained close as they grew older.
Victoria’s family has largely remained outside the public spotlight. Her twin sister, Alexandra Zardoya, has been referenced in reporting and social-media tributes, but extensive information about Victoria’s wider family has not been publicly documented through authoritative sources.
The Giudice family also had a close relationship with Victoria. Joe Giudice publicly said that he had watched her grow up alongside his daughter and regarded her as part of the family.
Career Path
Victoria was a college student at the time of her death rather than someone with an established long-term professional career. Public information identifies her as a University of Tampa student.
Some reports have stated that she worked as a nanny while she was home in New Jersey. However, the most consistently documented part of her background is her university education and student life.
Age
Victoria Zardoya was 20 years old when she died in July 2026. Her friends and the Giudice family repeatedly referred to her age in their public tributes.
| Detail | Confirmed or Reported Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Victoria Zardoya |
| Age | 20 |
| Hometown/Area | Morristown and Montville, New Jersey |
| College | University of Tampa |
| Incident Date | July 24, 2026 |
| Location | Fort Dade ruins, Egmont Key, Florida |
| Cause of Death | Craniocerebral trauma |
| Manner of Death | Accident |
Religion
Victoria Zardoya’s specific religious affiliation has not been reliably established in the public sources reviewed for this article. Members of the Giudice family shared tributes that included religious imagery, but those posts do not establish Victoria’s own religious beliefs.
For that reason, no particular religion or denomination is assigned to her profile.
Spouse or Partner
Victoria Zardoya was 20 and a college student when she died. No verified public source reviewed for this article identifies a spouse or confirms a current romantic partner.
References to close friends should not be interpreted as evidence of a romantic relationship.
Net Worth
Victoria Zardoya’s net worth was not publicly reported. There is no reliable financial information that supports a specific estimate.
Because she was a college student, online figures claiming to represent her net worth should be treated cautiously unless they can be traced to a credible financial or family source.
Parents
Victoria’s parents have not been widely identified by name in reliable mainstream reporting reviewed for this article. Her family was involved in the aftermath of the accident, and a friend said that information about the incident was shared publicly at the family’s request.
Additional family details should come from an official obituary, family statement, or another authoritative source.
Height
Victoria Zardoya’s height has not been reliably documented in the sources reviewed. No verified measurement is included here.
Education
Victoria attended the University of Tampa in Florida. Public reporting and a professional profile identify her as a student there, and she was part of the university community at the time of her death.
Some online reports have described her as studying finance and working toward a future graduation date, but those details have not been independently established through a university announcement in the sources reviewed.
Hometown and State of Origin
Victoria Zardoya was associated with Morristown and Montville, New Jersey. Her social-media and public-profile information connected her with those communities before she attended college in Florida.
She later spent significant time in Tampa while attending the University of Tampa, where Milania Giudice was also a student.
Official Social Media
A public Instagram account identified as Victoria Zardoya’s is listed under the handle @_victoriazardoya. Media reports have used that account when identifying photographs and posts associated with her.
What Happened to Victoria Zardoya?
The fatal incident occurred on July 24, 2026, at the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key, an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Zardoya was visiting Florida with friends when she fell from part of the historic structure.
A friend, Victoria Silberbusch, later described the emergency response in a statement shared at the request of Zardoya’s family. The group initially believed the fall was less severe, but realized that Victoria had fallen farther than first thought and immediately called for emergency assistance.
Friends used flares to help responders locate them. Paramedics reached the group by boat, and Zardoya was ultimately transported by medical helicopter to a hospital, where she remained in critical condition.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that she was pronounced deceased on July 27. The medical examiner subsequently determined that her cause of death was craniocerebral trauma and classified the manner of death as an accident.
Tributes From Milania Giudice and Her Family
Victoria’s death received widespread attention because of her lifelong friendship with Milania Giudice. Milania shared childhood photographs and memories of their relationship after the accident.
Teresa Giudice also paid tribute to Victoria, describing her as someone who had been like a daughter and an important part of Milania’s life. Joe Giudice similarly remembered her as a member of the family.
Milania later created another public tribute by getting a tattoo reading “Baby V” on her wrist in Victoria’s honor. The gesture was reported in August as she continued publicly processing the loss of her longtime friend.
Organ Donation
Victoria’s death was followed by an organ donation that her friends and Milania discussed publicly. Milania said Victoria’s donation would help save eight lives.
The donation became part of the tributes surrounding Victoria and gave her friends another way to remember her after her sudden death. The information about the donation was shared publicly by Milania in a social-media video following Victoria’s death.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Who was Victoria Zardoya?
Victoria Zardoya was a 20-year-old University of Tampa student from New Jersey. She was also the longtime childhood best friend of Milania Giudice and was described by the Giudice family as part of their family.
When did Victoria Zardoya die?
Victoria was seriously injured in a fall on July 24, 2026, at Fort Dade on Egmont Key. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that she was pronounced deceased on July 27, although some early reports and family tributes used July 26 as the date of death.
What was Victoria Zardoya’s cause of death?
The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Victoria’s cause of death was craniocerebral trauma. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
How old was Victoria Zardoya?
Victoria Zardoya was 20 years old when she died. Her age was confirmed in reporting about the accident and in tributes from her friends and the Giudice family.
What happened to Victoria Zardoya in Florida?
Victoria fell while exploring the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key on July 24, 2026. She was transported to a hospital after emergency responders reached the remote location, but she later died from her injuries.
Was Victoria Zardoya Milania Giudice’s best friend?
Yes. Milania Giudice and Victoria Zardoya were childhood friends and neighbors and remained close into adulthood. Milania publicly described Victoria as her best friend, sister, and soulmate in tributes following her death.
Where did Victoria Zardoya go to college?
Victoria attended the University of Tampa in Florida. Public profiles and news reports identify her as a student at the university when she died.
Where was Victoria Zardoya from?
Victoria was associated with Morristown and Montville, New Jersey. She later attended college in Tampa, Florida.
Did Victoria Zardoya donate her organs?
Yes. Milania Giudice said publicly that Victoria’s organs were donated and that the donation would save eight people’s lives. The organ donation took place after her death and before the autopsy was completed.
Is Victoria Zardoya’s cause of death confirmed?
Yes. The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed craniocerebral trauma as the cause of death and classified the manner of death as an accident.
Wrap-Up
Victoria Zardoya’s death was confirmed after a July 24 fall at Fort Dade on Egmont Key. She was 20 years old, attended the University of Tampa, and had a lifelong friendship with Milania Giudice that made her loss especially visible to the public.
The official medical findings provide a clearer account of what happened: Zardoya suffered craniocerebral trauma and her death was ruled accidental. While some early coverage listed July 26 as the date of death, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that she was pronounced deceased on July 27.
As of September 25, 2026, the focus has shifted from the initial breaking news to remembrance. Friends and family have continued sharing memories of Victoria, including a celebration of life in Tampa, while her organ donation has also become part of the story of how her life continued to affect others.
Disclaimer
This obituary is based on publicly available reporting, statements attributed to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office, public social-media tributes, and professional-profile information available as of September 25, 2026. Where public reports contain conflicting dates, the discrepancy is identified rather than concealed. Personal details that could not be reliably verified have not been presented as fact. This article is for informational and memorial purposes and should not be treated as a substitute for an official family obituary or government record.
