Milania Giudice has permanently memorialized her childhood best friend Victoria Zardoya with a wrist tattoo reading "Baby V," sharing the tribute on social media one week after Zardoya's death.
The 20-year-old daughter of Teresa and Joe Giudice posted a photograph of the script tattoo to her Instagram Stories on Monday, August 3, writing "Always my baby V" over the image, according to a report by People the following day.
Zardoya died at age 20 after sustaining injuries in a fall on Friday, July 24, during a visit to Egmont Key, located off Tampa Bay's coast in Florida. The incident occurred just over a week ago.
According to Molly Page Morris, a friend of Zardoya's who spoke with Us Weekly three days after the death, Zardoya had traveled from New Jersey to Tampa. "I was supposed to hang out with her that evening, and I was able to be there at the hospital," Morris told Us Weekly at the time.
On Saturday, August 1, Milania shared an emotional Instagram tribute accompanied by photographs documenting their friendship over the years. The post revealed the depth of their bond, which began when both girls were just four years old.
"My Victoria. My best friend. My sister. My soulmate. My partner in crime," Milania wrote. "There are no words in any language that could ever describe losing you. I still wait for your name to pop up on my phone, I still expect to hear your laugh, and I still catch myself wanting to tell you something. My heart keeps forgetting what my mind already knows."
The tribute detailed how the two became inseparable neighbors. "We went to art school together, grew up on Indian Lane, and somehow two little girls who lived two houses apart became sisters," Milania wrote. "I was at 6 Indian Lane, and you and Alexandra were at 16 Indian Lane. We ARE the girls."
Zardoya leaves behind her parents and her twin sister, Alexandra.
Us Weekly reported on Wednesday, July 29, that the Manatee County Medical Examiner's Office has postponed Zardoya's autopsy. The delay stems from the need to complete organ donation procedures before her body can be transferred for examination.