Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

'Real Housewives' Star Packs Entire Suitcase Of Diet Coke For Europe Trip

'Real Housewives' Jill Zarin describing her love for America's version of Diet Coke
@allyshaps/TikTok

'The Real Housewives of New York' star Jill Zarin was so convinced that Diet Coke is unavailable in Europe that she ended up bringing along an entire suitcase full of the beverage—but things didn't go quite as planned.

Imagine being so addicted to your beverage of choice that you couldn't go two weeks without it.

Jill Zarin, also known as one of the Real Housewives of New York, went on a European cruise and tour with her family, but not before packing enough of her favorite beverage to get her through the two-week trip.


The Real Housewife's travel excursions were recorded by her daughter, Ally Shapiro, who has a popular TikTok of travel stories, "get ready with me" videos, and "outfit of the day" videos.

Upon landing, Zarin spoke to the @allyshaps TikTok channel like a classic influencer, describing how she packed for the trip:

"So, I've smuggled in the Diet Coke from the United States, because they don't sell it in Europe."
"They only have Coke Lite and Coke Zero, and it sucks."

Zarin then bit her lip and confessed:

"But I think one of them exploded."

Filming the video, Shapiro said in a voiceover, totally taken by surprise:

"She literally packed a suitcase of Diet Coke."

There turned out to be two cans of Diet Coke that had broken during the trip and leaked all over inside the suitcase, but all of the bottles were intact.

Given the fact that Zarin had filled an entire double-sided suitcase with Diet Coke, "enough for two weeks," losing just two cans was impressive.

You can watch the video, here:

@allyshaps

Any other diet coke girlies travel with an entire suitcase of diet coke? Luckily it made it safely! #dietcoke #flying #airport

As oddly impressive as that was, TikTok could not get over Zarin's idea that Diet Coke was not available in Europe.

Though Coke Lite and Coke Zero are more common than Diet Coke, Diet Coke is still available, especially in inland locations of Europe and all across the United Kingdom.

The difference is that many of the sweeteners and additives that are used in American-produced soda are banned from use in the European Union, so sodas are often not as sweet-tasting as their American counterparts.

Because of the number of people who came forward to say that Diet Coke was available, the comments were turned off in the first video.

In a second video, however, Zarin argued that Coke Lite was "supposed to be" Diet Coke but did not taste the same.

The Real Housewife explained that she called the cruise line ahead of time to see what they would be offering on the ship, and they said they would have Coke Lite, Coke Zero, and regular Coke available for passengers, but not Diet Coke.

Zarin reiterated:

"It may look like Diet Coke, but it says Coke Lite, and it doesn't taste like Diet Coke. It just doesn't."

You can watch the video, here:

@allyshaps

Replying to @alefrox coke light is not the same as diet coke!

In another video, Zarin continued to dig in her heels while at a cruise stop in Florence, Italy.

"[While on the stop], I'm desperate, so I bought a Coke Zero, which is the closest to the Diet Coke flavor in this country (Italy)."
"Coke Lite doesn't taste like Diet Coke, and I keep saying, they use different sugar here, they have different bottling plants, and it's not a bad thing, it just isn't..."
"I'm used to Diet Coke. That's what I like. That's what I want."
"I am not a fan of this (the can of Coke Zero), but I'm desperate, so I'm going to have to, you know (drink it)."

Shapiro then added in the background:

"So, real Diet Coke addicts know. If you know, you know."

Zarin agreed:

"If you know, you know."

You can watch the video, here:

@allyshaps

Replying to @Abigail only real diet coke lovers know the difference! Yes some places have diet coke but it is very hard to find, and regardless its still not the same taste as the US! #dietcoke

Some fellow TikTokers agreed with what Zarin was talking about.

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

But others cautioned the Real Housewife, pointing out why her drink tasted so different.

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

Some also questioned Zarin's "addiction" to Diet Coke.

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

@allyshaps/TikTok

Everyone has a favorite beverage, but some are more adamant about their preferences! Packing an entire suitcase of Diet Coke, and posting multiple videos about it, makes us suspect Jill Zarin is preparing for a future Tedx Talk...

More from Trending

dog and cat snuggling together
Krista Mangulsone on Unsplash

Times Pet Owners 'Severely Underestimated' Their Pets' Intelligence

I've lived with cats—because no one owns a feline—most of my life. Some have been very clever creatures while others were real dingbats.

Family members have owned dogs whose talents also ran the gamut.

Keep Reading Show less
Scott Bessent
Meet the Press/NBC News

Scott Bessent Blasted Over His Bonkers Suggestion For How To Bring Your Own Inflation Rate Down

Continuing to follow the example of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on Meet the Press Sunday to blame Democratic President Joe Biden for the financial downturn caused by Trump's tariff fiasco, then lied repeatedly about the state of the economy.

Meet the Press host Kristen Welker played a clip of MAGA Republican Vice President JD Vance telling a conservative audience at a Breitbart News event that Americans owe the Trump administration "a little bit of patience"—apparently while they figure out what tariffs are and how they work since they're rolling back more of them to lower consumer prices despite claiming Trump's tariffs don't affect consumer prices.

Keep Reading Show less
Lindsay Lohan attends the men's final during day fifteen of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Elsa/Getty Images

Lindsay Lohan Is Now Sporting A New Accent—And Fans Aren't Sure What To Make Of It

In a twist freakier than a sequel to Freaky Friday, Lindsay Lohan has debuted yet another new accent—this time at the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards in Doha, Qatar.

Draped in a maroon, jewel-trimmed gown by The New Arrivals Ilkyaz Ozel and accompanied by her husband, Bader Shammas, and their 2-year-old son, Luai, the actress looked serene, elegant, and completely unbothered by the collective whiplash she was about to inflict on the internet.

Keep Reading Show less
Jameela Jamil
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

Jameela Jamil Speaks Out Against The Rise Of The 'Aesthetic Of Emaciation' Among Women In Hollywood

Content Warning: eating disorders, thinness as an aesthetic, emaciation in Hollywood

There's no denying that we've been gifted with some incredible music, television shows, and films this year.

Keep Reading Show less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour 2"
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images; New Line Cinema

Trump Is Now Using His Presidential Sway To Pressure Studio Into Making 'Rush Hour 4'—And, Huh?

President Trump has reportedly pressured Paramount head Larry Ellison to make another sequel to Rush Hour, his favorite buddy-cop movie, as the company looks to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

The first Rush Hour film, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, was released in 1998, received positive reviews, and made $245 million worldwide. Chan and Tucker returned for two sequels released in 2001 and 2007 respectively.

Keep Reading Show less