SJM_Interview_Jackie_Siegel_0422_layout 4 / 26 / 22 1 : 36 PM Page 2 JACKIE SIEGEL give us a few stats on the house ? house , we will be able to get the ears of ings with the construction crew , learning Never in a million years did I imagine people that just want to see the house different job responsibilities , helping in living in a home like Versailles . When and educate them about the drug epi - the decision - making process and learn - completed , it will have 12 kitchens , demic and hopefully they will be so en - ing how to stay within a budget , al - about 18 bedrooms , a formal library , a gaged with what we have to say that all though we don’t actually have a budget movie theater , a bowling alley , a night of those people will go home and edu - on the house , which makes it easier for club and a grand ballroom . The ball - cate their friends and hopefully there me , but it’s important that we are always room floor is going to be spectacular . I will be a ripple effect . respectful of my husband’s money . The wanted it to be made with semi - pre - main reason my husband and I want our cious stones such as amethyst , rose Whatcan viewers expect from your children involved in this whole process quartz , turquoise and lapis , just to name newshow Queen of Versailles Reigns is because we want them to enjoy living a few . We sourced the stones from 22 Again ? there and for them to one day enjoy the different countries and shipped them to They will see a lot of the challenges of house with their own families . Being to - Indonesia where they built a warehouse building one of the largest and most ex - gether as a family has always been im - the size of a football stadium to lay out pensive homes in America during portant to us but ever since the death of the floor . I will soon travel to approve COVID . The audience will also get a peek our 18 - year - old daughter , Victoria , six the floor . I’m very excited to see this at my private life and see that not every - years ago , it’s the most important thing floor — it will be priceless . thing is as perfect as they may think . My to us . Have you had a lot of Since the loss of Vic - JACKIE SIEGEL 3 WITH KIDS inputin the design toria , both you and DAVID , JACQUELINE processover the years ? David have made great AND DANIEL Yes , I have had a lot of in - stridesin the war on put as far as choosing drugsand addiction . what type of rooms we Whathave the past six should have . Over the yearstaught you ? years it has really evolved We have learned so because our kids have much . Just six years ago , grown up and so our when someone passed wants and needs have away from a drug over - changed quite a bit . Our dose , many people would youngest kids are in high lie about how their loved school so obviously we no one died , saying it was an longer need nannies ’ undiagnosed heart con - rooms , diaper - changing dition or natural causes . areas , or a zero - entry pool When Victoria died , we for toddlers . We originally made a conscious deci - planned on having an sion to be truthful in the ice - skating rink but now hopes of preventing this that will be a night club . from happening to any - The original bedrooms one else . Shortly after were designed for little her death , we learned kids so those rooms have that she could have pos - now grown to be more sibly been saved if any of apartment - like . the first responders had been equipped with Nar - How have you evolved can . Since then , we have since you first started Versailles ? husband and our family are very in - worked to get Narcan in the hands of as I’ve grown up a lot since then . I would volved in the show as well . We go many first responders as we can . We are say losing a daughter changed me more through our challenges and there’s a lot now trying to get Narcan emergency than anything . Back then , I wanted to of laughter and a lot of tears . Unfortu - medical boxes on every floor of all col - have a big house for our family to enjoy nately , my husband had some health ail - lege dormitories . We started our foun - and to have parties in but now we see it ments during this time . He hurt his back dation , Victoria’s Voice , to raise aware - as a house with a mission . I mean , I want four - wheeling with the boys and ended ness of the often - hidden signs of drug to finish the house for my husband , be - up having back surgery so I was put in use and have helped mentor and guide cause it is his dream , and for us to all charge of Versailles while he recovered . parents who are either dealing with an ry + live here as a family , but I’m also really addicted child or who have lost a child cove looking forward to using this house as a to drugs . It’s a disease that can strike Haveyour children had a great deal Dis place to hold fundraisers and raise anyone . Our ninth - grade twins frecently ofinput as well ? o sy awareness of the dangers of drugs . That’s lost a classmate to drugs and a dear Yes , and ever since I have been put in urte one of the best things about this show — friend of ours recently lost his 22 - year - charge , my two oldest sons ( David Jr . coand h the attention that it brings to Versailles old son , his only child , to an overdose . Daniel ) have become really involved grapin allows us to redirect some of that spot - The drug epidemic is just getting worse the whole process . They are like my hotoside - n light on the drug epidemic . Through this and worse . kicks ( laughing ) . They are in the Pmeet - SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 59