VUE

VUE: Mike, the world met you at a very specific moment in your life. High energy, larger than life, to say the least. Looking back now, how would you describe the evolution of "e Situation" to the man that you are today? Mike: Oh my God, you're gonna make me tear up. I think that my character over the last 17 years has surprised me, has surprised my wife, it has surprised my fans. I have goosebumps just from that question because it's very, very–I have a very unlikely comeback story, you know? If you would have told me 17 years ago that one day I would be going on my 11th year of sobriety, happily married, going on my 8th year of marriage, three beautiful children, and I own many treatment centers and I save lives on a daily basis, like what? Like what?! at right there is a Hollywood movie, right? And I'm so very proud of my progress, but I essentially owe it all to the woman to my right. She has been my inspiration for over 20 years and she stood by me and saw the man that was hidden beneath all of that bravado, or when I didn't love myself or when I didn't even know who I was, she had that foresight to see the man that I once would be which is now, which is wild. It's crazy. It's beautiful. VUE: Lauren, what part of Mike has stayed exactly the same? Lauren: Oh my goodness, so much. So much and so little at the same time, ironically. He still is the same charismatic personable person when you meet him. When I met him, I was 19…this is going back maybe 20+ years? And he just was very charismatic, very friendly. He talked to everybody, everyone was treated the same, and he is that same way today and it's such an honorable way to live. And it's really why I feel like so many people love him and feel like they know him on such a personal level. Mike: Yea, I feel like God has blessed me with the ability to connect, just on a human level, with people where people know when they talk to me when they speak to me, like… 'he's authentic, he's genuine.' VUE: Lauren, your story together spans many chapters. Before fame, before all of it, right? When you look at the relationship today, what's the one thing that you believe kept it strong through everything that you guys have been through? Lauren: Wow. Definitely our commitment to each other, and I think that that was rooted in our foundation of our history. Photography: Kiara Gomez Makeup: Nicolette Dalesandro & Lauren D'Amelio Ventre representing D'Amelio Cosmetic Hair: Kevin Kelly, Kevin Kelly Salon Men's Styling: Carmen Bucco, owner of Bucco Couture in Nutley, NJ Women's Styling: Lauren Sorrentino VUENJ.COM 59

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