Before She Was Famous

Before The View or her time in courtrooms, Star Jones made a bold move to kickstart her working life.

“I took a copy of my birth certificate, used Wite-Out and changed the year that I was born so that I could work,” she says. “I was only 15 and you were supposed to be 16.”

That same determination has carried her from legal practice to television and now advocacy. Jones’s latest role is with Medtronic’s Letter to My Mother campaign, encouraging women to prioritize heart health through honest, intergenerational conversations — something deeply personal for her, having been raised by her mother and eight strong aunts.

While she’s known for her legal mind, Star remains down-to-earth and candid. Whether it's watching Dateline with her husband, dreaming of life in Monte Carlo, or dancing to “Me and Mrs. Jones,” she continues to blend confidence, warmth, and grit.

Here are a few things you might not know about her:

5 Things You Don’t Know About Star Jones (Condensed)

1. I have a photographic memory — it helped me survive law school.
2. My mentor Suzanne de Passe always says, “We have shooken and tooken.”
3. My first car was a beat-up Toyota Corolla.
4. I always knew I’d be a lawyer. If I weren’t, I’d plan events.
5. I crave 10-ingredient fried rice — no MSG.
6. My mother and her sisters shaped who I am. That’s why the Medtronic campaign matters.
7. My proudest career moment? Representing the people of New York in court.
8. I started working at McDonald’s — as the fry girl.
9. See quote above.
10. Monaco is my dream destination — I belong in Monte Carlo.
11. I just binged Paradise. Sterling K. Brown is incredible.
12. Comfort food: grits with cheese, eggs, and sausage.
13. Weekends? Tennis in the Hamptons and pool time.
14. I've seen the Great Wall, gone on safari still want that Nile cruise.
15. I never leave home without my phone, lip gloss, and heart monitor app.
16. I’ve seen Jurassic Park over a thousand times.
17. I was great at history in school.
18. My husband and I watch Dateline every night and solve crimes together.
19. A hot shower and true crime helps me unwind.
20. Life lesson: stand in the space God created for you.
21. My health journey began 20 years ago with weight loss surgery—then open heart surgery. Now, I advocate for women’s health.
22. Our song is “Me and Mrs. Jones.” We dance to it like my parents did.
23. Favorite place to shop? The outlets in Tuscany.
24. As a kid, I loved Six Flags — we’d coordinate outfits before we went.
25. I’ve lived many lives—and I’m far from done.