Laura Giaritta: The Woman Behind Vanilla Ice’s Success and Struggles

Laura Giaritta is a businesswoman, a mother, and a former celebrity spouse. She is best known for being the ex-wife of Robert Matthew Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, the rapper who rose to fame with his hit single “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990. But who is Laura Giaritta, and what is her story?

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Laura Giaritta
Date of birth	October 18, 1970
Age	53 years old
Place of birth	Florida, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	White
Religion	Christian
Zodiac sign	Libra
Gender	Female
Sexuality	Straight
Marital status	Divorced
Ex-husband	Vanilla Ice (Robert Matthew Van Winkle)
Date of marriage	March 30, 1997
Date of divorce	November 19, 2019
Children	Two daughters: Dusti Rain (born 1998) and KeeLee Breeze (born 2000)
Parents	Father Thomas Giaritta and mother Elaine Giaritta
Residence	Palm Beach, Florida
Occupation	Businesswoman
Net worth	Estimated at $10 million
Business	Owner of a sports shop called “2 The Extreme”
Hobbies	Unknown
Social media	None
Awards	None

How Laura Giaritta Met Vanilla Ice and Fell in Love

Laura Giaritta was born on October 18, 1970, USA. Her parents are Thomas and Elaine Giaritta, and she has an older sister named Renee.

Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, was born on October 31, 1967, in Texas, USA. He had a troubled childhood. He became interested in rap music and breakdancing and started performing under the stage name Vanilla Ice. He rose to fame in 1990 with his hit song “Ice Ice Baby”, which became the first hip-hop single to top the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Laura Giaritta and Vanilla Ice met in 1994, long after Rob had lost his fame as a pop star after he had broken up with Madonna and survived a near-death experience with a heroin overdose. They hit it off and started dating soon after.

They decided to tie the knot on March 30, 1997, at Star Island mansion in Miami Beach. They had a romantic wedding ceremony, attended by their family and friends. They exchanged vows and rings and sealed their love with a kiss. They looked happy and radiant, and everyone congratulated them on their union. As a new couple, Laura and Vanilla Ice ran a sporting goods store that bore the name of his early album, 2 The Xtreme, and they both worked in the shop.

They had two daughters, Dusti Rain and Keelee Breeze, born in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Laura devoted herself to being a loving wife and a caring mother, while Vanilla Ice achieved fame and success in the music and entertainment industry.

The Ups and Downs of Laura Giaritta’s Marriage with Vanilla Ice

Laura and Vanilla Ice’s marriage was plagued by many problems and challenges, both personal and professional. Vanilla Ice struggled with drug addiction, depression, and anger issues, which affected his career and his relationship with Laura. He was arrested several times for various offenses, such as driving under the influence and domestic violence.

Laura, on the other hand, tried to support Vanilla Ice and help him overcome his demons. She stood by him through his highs and lows and forgave him for his mistakes and infidelities. She also focused on raising their daughters and running their businesses, a sports store called 2 The Xtreme. She also encouraged Vanilla Ice to pursue his passion for home renovation and remodeling, which led to his successful career as a reality TV star. He hosted his own show, called The Vanilla Ice Project, on the DIY Network, where he showcased his skills and creativity in transforming ordinary houses into extraordinary ones.

However, despite their efforts and achievements, Laura and Vanilla Ice could not save their marriage. They grew apart and drifted away from each other. They also had frequent arguments and fights, which sometimes turned violent. They separated several times, but always reconciled. But nothing worked, and their marriage was doomed to fail.

Laura Giaritta’s Divorce from Vanilla Ice and Its Aftermath

Laura Giaritta finally filed for divorce from Vanilla Ice in 2016, after 19 years of marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences and requested sole custody of their daughters, alimony, and half of their assets. She also accused Vanilla Ice of hiding his income and properties from her, and of being abusive and unfaithful. Vanilla Ice denied the allegations and contested the divorce.

The divorce process was long and bitter and lasted for three years. It involved multiple court hearings, mediation sessions, and legal battles. It also attracted a lot of media attention and public scrutiny. It was finally finalized in November 2019, after Laura and Vanilla Ice reached a settlement. The details of the settlement were not disclosed.

After officially divorce, their legal battles did not end there. Giaritta accused Ice of shortchanging her on alimony payments and took him to court in March 2020. Ice claimed it was a glitch and agreed to pay her $10,500 a month in support plus $110,000 for what he failed to pay over their divorce, as well as more than $200,000 for her legal bills, according to court records.

The divorce took a toll on both Laura and Vanilla Ice, emotionally and financially. They both suffered from stress, depression, and loneliness. They also faced some difficulties and losses in their businesses. However, they also managed to move on and rebuild their lives.

Laura Giaritta’s Life After Vanilla Ice: A Successful Businesswoman and a Loving Mother

Laura Giaritta did not let her divorce from Vanilla Ice define her or stop her from achieving her goals and dreams. She continued to run her sports store, 2 The Xtreme.

Laura Giaritta also devoted herself to raising her daughters, Dusti and KeeLee, who are now in their twenties. She gave them the best education and opportunities and supported them in their endeavors and aspirations. She also taught them the values of hard work, honesty, and kindness.

Vanilla Ice, on the other hand, had another daughter, Priscilla Love, in 2018 with Kirra, his long-term partner. Kirra prefers to keep a low profile, but Vanilla Ice sometimes shares pictures of her on his online platforms.

Net Worth

Laura Giaritta owns a sports shop in Florida called “2 The Extreme”. She has amassed a considerable fortune from her entrepreneurship and business, as well as from the divorce settlement with Vanilla Ice. Her net worth is estimated at around $10 million as of 2024. She also receives alimony from her former spouse.

Physical traits

Trait	Description
Height	About 5 feet 2 inches
Weight	About 60 kg or 132
Face	Oval-shaped with high cheekbones and a pointed chin
Eyes	Brown with long eyelashes
Hair	Dark brown, straight, and shoulder-length
Body type	Triangle
Skin tone	Fair with a tan
Tattoos	None visible
Piercings	Ears pierced
Accessories	Wears earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings
Clothing style	Casual and trendy, likes to wear jeans, t-shirts, jackets, and hats

Fun Facts bout Laura Giaritta’s Birthday

Here are some fun facts about Laura Giaritta’s birthday:

• Laura Giaritta was born on October 18, 1970, in Florida, United States
• Her zodiac sign is Libra, which is symbolized by the scales and represents balance, harmony, and justice. Libras are known for being social, charming, and diplomatic.
• Her birth flower is the marigold, which is the primary October birth flower. Marigolds are vibrant flowers that come in orange, red, gold, and yellow colors. They symbolize passion, creativity, cheer, joy, and remembrance.
• Her birthstone is the opal, which is the traditional October birthstone. Opals are gems that display a rainbow of colors, known as “play-of-color”. They are associated with faithfulness, confidence, and prophesy.
• Some of the famous celebrities who share her birthday are Zac Efron, Tyler Posey, Ne-Yo, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Chuck Berry.