Snooki, Housewives and the Real Women of NJ

Egregious tanning, overblown drinking, furious fist fights, big hair, overturned tables—enough!

Two current contests are looking to overturn negative perceptions of our state and its inhabitants by promoting "real" New Jersey residents, their accomplishments and their communities.

First, filmmakers, Jersey fans, or both are invited to compete in a video contest showcasing the "real Jersey shore." The contest is an attempt by Assemblyman Jon Bramnick to change thoughts about New Jersey that are based on the MTV reality show. Challenging residents to develop 30-second videos about what they like about the Shore, Bramnick will give awards out during a film festival of his Shore clips.

"I consider it a bar fight," Bramnick said of the reality show. "I don't think the Jersey Shore is one big bar fight."

Meanwhile, the t-shirt maker A Simple Daisy is looking to provide an antidote to The Real Housewives of New Jersey by a searching for "real women of New Jersey who are making a positive impact in their communities and represent all the wonderful qualities of the Garden State." (Mary Marzano, where are you?)

To enter the contest, women 21 years of age or older should take a picture or 30-second video of themselves doing a charitable deed or in front of their favorite Jersey icon, landmark, restaurant, beach, store, etc. wearing the Jersey Girl tee from A Simple Daisy explaining why they believe they are the ultimate Jersey girl. All profits from the sale of the Jersey Girl t-shirts will benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. You can visit A Simple Daisy's website for more information.

Now, all this seriousness doesn't mean that Bramnick and A Simple Daisy don't own a sense of humor or even enjoy the reality shows they wish to counter. Bramnick admits to watching between five to 10 minutes of antics of Snooki and friends as they summer in Seaside. A close ally of Gov. Chris Christie, Bramnick said he agrees with the governor that the show, which debuted for a second season this week, is not helping the state's image. Bramnick did say he did not think it mattered that most of the cast came from New York, which Christie brought up on Sunday during an interview on ABC's This Week.

"The truth of the matter is whether they are from New York, New Jersey or Oklahoma, a bar fight is not the Jersey Shore," he said. "I grew up going to the Shore and there are boardwalks and all kinds of entertainment."

Bramnick is asking residents to send 30-second videos to asmbramnick@njleg.org showing their favorite Shore moments. He will have a panel of shore based legislators judge the best and plans to host an event to showcase the clips. He said he is still in the process of putting the showcase together. No date has been announced.

Bramnick, who moonlights as a stand-up comedian and has been voted the funniest lawyer in the state, said he is taking this all in good fun. He said he just wants to showcase that the Shore is more than Snooki.

"I am having fun showing the alternative," he said. "I have no animosity to the entertainment business."

Simpledaisy.com also understands that the shows are just entertainment. As the website states: "The reality shows can be amusing, fun, and entertaining but we all know that there is so much more to Jersey Girls than what is depicted on television."