Maria Menounos | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Menounos in 2014 | |
| Born | (1978-06-08)June 8, 1978 (age 47) Medford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Emerson College |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Maria Menounos (/məˈnuːnoʊs/mə-NOO-nohss;Greek:Μαρία Μενούνος[maˈri.ameˈnunos]; born June 8, 1978) is an American television host. She has hostedExtra andE! News; she was a TV correspondent forToday,Access Hollywood, and co-hosted theEurovision Song Contest 2006 inAthens, Greece. She also co-created and is currently CEO of online podcast series networkAfterBuzz TV. She is currently signed toWWE where she has served as anambassador since 2013, having even competed in some tag team events as a pro since 2009. She hosted the podcastConversations with Maria Menounos. She also co-hosted theMiss Universe 2023 pageant.
Menounos was born to Greek immigrants on June 8, 1978,[1] inMedford, a suburb ofBoston, Massachusetts, United States. Her father, Konstantinos "Kostas" Menounos, is originally fromAkovos, and her mother, Stavroula "Litsa"[2] (née Kapernekas; 1954–2021), was originally fromKalamata.[3][4] Menounos later worked as ajanitor in the nightclubThe Channel with Litsa and Kostas.[5] Menounos has a younger brother.[6] She graduated fromMedford High School in 1996.[7]
In 1995, Menounos began to compete in beauty pageants. The following year, she won the title ofMiss Massachusetts Teen USA and competed atMiss Teen USA—where she placed in the top 15, receiving an honorary mention, during the preliminary competition. She placed 13th in the preliminaries. She competed for the title ofMiss Massachusetts USA 2000 and was the first runner-up.
Menounos attendedEmerson College, participating there in the organization Emerson Independent Video; she graduated in 2000.[8]
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During her senior year at Emerson, Menounos worked as a reporter forChannel One News. For her 10-minute segments, she traveled toEl Salvador to report on theJanuary 2001 andFebruary 2001 earthquakes, interviewedNATO aircrew members aboard anE-3 AWACS plane during the military alliance'sOperation Eagle Assist, and interviewed PresidentGeorge W. Bush.
Entertainment Tonight hired Menounos as a correspondent in 2002;[9] she reported on movies, music, and fashion. She left the program in 2005 to focus on her acting career, although she joined rival programAccess Hollywood that fall as a correspondent.[10]
She went on to co-host a few episodes of theToday show in the late summer and fall of 2006 as well as in April 2007. In 2003, she appeared on the November 30 episode ofPunk'd as one of many celebrities caught in the awkward and embarrassing "Red Carpet Interviews".
In 2004, Menounos appeared in an episode of theUPN seriesOne on One as Glenda, an eccentric, self-proclaimed "Fairy Godmother to the Stars". In the summer of 2005, she appeared in thecomic book filmFantastic Four playing a nurse romanced by theHuman Torch (Chris Evans). Her likeness and voice was featured in the 2005Electronic Arts video gameJames Bond 007: From Russia with Love as Eva Adara,Red Grant's henchwoman, which starsSean Connery as James Bond. She is a spokesperson forPantene hair products. Menounos presented the2006Eurovision Song Contest (along with Greek singerSakis Rouvas) which took place inAthens.[11] She directedLongtime Listener, starringWilmer Valderrama. The film was an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival 2006. She acted in and producedAdventures of Serial Buddies, which is credited with being the first serial killer buddy comedy.[12]
At the age of 17, Menounos producedIn the Land of Merry Misfits, an independent film fairy tale. The 35 mm feature film was produced by Menounos while attendingEmerson College with director Keven Undergaro, then head writer forMTV'sSingled Out. The negative of the film was stolen and the film was never completed but her work on the film, and the film's director, helped her land her reporting job atChannel One News and at MTV (ET on MTV). In 2005, she personally funded the recovery and restoration of the film, which was narrated byJohn Waters and starred an eclectic group in the Waters vein—including formerWWE championBob Backlund, actressJosie Davis from the TV showCharles in Charge, and B-movie icon Randal Malone. The film premiered at the 2007Tribeca Film Festival.
Menounos also maintainsAfterBuzzTV, an online entertainment network she founded with Undergaro,[13] for which she was named the 2014 CES Entertainment Matters Ambassador. As an actress, she had recurring roles on theCBS-TV programWithout a Trace and as Jules in the second season ofThe CW'sOne Tree Hill (during its run onThe WB). Menounos also appeared on theScrubs episode "My Extra Mile", which aired in May 2006 where she is attracted toJohn Dorian because she likes his hair. In 2006, she appeared in the music video for "A Public Affair" byJessica Simpson. On April 27, 2007, Menounos starred inKickin' It Old Skool. In 2007, she continued in her run as international spokesperson doing print and television commercials forPantene hair products as well as print ads forNew York & Company. From December 17 to 20, 2007, she hosted the reality game show miniseriesClash of the Choirs.
In 2008, she became the host ofHollywood Green on thePlanet Green network. In 2008, she had a role in the movieTropic Thunder, and in the same year became the first (and to date the only) journalist to interview the entire Obama family as a whole. She also reported forNBC Nightly News.
In May 2008, Menounos played in theAVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open but was eliminated in the qualifying round. On July 13, 2008, she played in the celebrity softball game atYankee Stadium in New York. In November 2008, whenRichard Belzer fell ill, she filled in as host for theNorth Shore Animal League's Dogcatemy Celebrity Gala, which is held at NYC's Capitale.[14] From 2009 to 2012, she hosted various reunion specials of MTV'sThe Real World andThe Challenge. She appeared on the 2008Knight Rider series episode "Fly By Knight", which aired on February 11, 2009; she played a DEA agent who is in charge of investigating a plane crash.
On August 4, 2011, it was announced that she would join Warner Bros.'sExtra, where she co-hosted the show withMario Lopez. She also had on-air duties at Dr. Drew'sLifechangers, with plans to develop new projects.[15] For her work onExtra, Menounos won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. She was a contestant on the14th season ofDancing with the Stars partnering withDerek Hough.[16] The couple was eliminated on May 15, 2012 placing fourth in the competition. In May 2013, Menounos began a new interview series calledConversations with Maria Menounos;[17]Zoe Saldana was her first guest. On February 6 2012, Menounos did a show in only a New Yorkgiants bikini after losing a bet she place with her fellow host Lopez. After the Giants were defeated atSuper Bowl XLVI, Menounos honored her word and wore nothing but a bikini on their next on air appearance.[3]
On March 18, 2014, Menounos' reality TV seriesChasing Maria Menounos premiered on theOxygen Network.[18]
In May 2014, after three years of hostingExtra, Menounos left the show signing a multi-year contract withE! Entertainment to host and produce several programs. In July 2015,The Hollywood Reporter announced that she would replaceGiuliana Rancic as the co-anchor ofE! News.[19] In July 2017, Menounos stepped down due to an ongoing battle with a brain tumor.[20][21][22]
In 2015, it was announced that Menounos would host a daily, one-hour radio show onSiriusXM calledConversations with Maria on Stars 109.[23] The same year, Menounos was named the host ofNational CineMedia's pre-show programFirstLook shown in movie theaters,[24] and has been the host of their pre-show programNoovie since its launch in 2017.[25]
In 2020, GSTV announced a partnership to air short-form videos called Better Together with Maria Menounos on GSTV-affiliated gas pump video screens in more than 28,000 locations. The brief videos feature Menounos providing tips for physical and emotional health, relationship advice, and other wellness-based information.[26]
In June 2021, Menounos hosted the reunion show forseason one ofThe Challenge: All Stars, a special-limited series of the MTV reality-competition seriesThe Challenge, alongsideNate Burleson.[27] In December 2021, Menounos hosted the reunion show for the 37th season of the main series ofThe Challenge, titledThe Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies.[28]
In 2025, Menounos worked withTaye Diggs in theLifetime short filmI'll Be Home for Margarita Day which was presented byChili's.[29]
World Wrestling Entertainment/ WWE (2009-2019)
Menounos is a long-time WWE fan and has made several appearances with WWE. Her first appearance was on October 12, 2009; Menounos joinedNancy O'Dell and guest hostedWWE Raw. She made her in-ring debut that night in a sixdivatag team match withGail Kim andKelly Kelly againstAlicia Fox,Beth Phoenix, andRosa Mendes; Menounos' team was victorious; a highlight was Menounos slapping the much larger-stature Phoenix.[30]
On December 11, 2011, atWWE Tribute to the Troops, Menounos returned and teamed with Alicia Fox,Eve Torres, and Kelly Kelly to defeat the team ofThe Bella Twins (Brie andNikki) andThe Divas of Doom (Phoenix andNatalya). Menounos got the win for her team by pinning Phoenix.[31]
Menounos continued her feud withWWE Divas Champion Phoenix after Phoenix and Eve Torres interrupted an interview segment with Kelly Kelly onExtra. This led to a tag team match atWrestleMania XXVIII with Menounos teaming with Kelly Kelly to take on Phoenix and Torres.[32] Despite suffering two cracked ribs during practice forDancing with the Stars before the match,[33] Menounos and Kelly were successful in defeating Phoenix and Torres on April 1, 2012, at WrestleMania, with Menounos pinning Phoenix for the win.[34]
On April 6, 2013, atMadison Square Garden, Menounos inductedBob Backlund into theWWE Hall of Fame.[35] On August 18, 2013, atSummerSlam Axxess, she teamed with Natalya defeating Brie Bella andEva Marie.[36][37]
On August 17, 2014, Menounos was seen at theSummerSlam pay-per-view, appearing in the crowd and later in a backstage segment withStephanie McMahon, who accepted Menounos's challenge for theALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Menounos was actually nominated by McMahon's father and chairman of WWE,Vince McMahon.
She has hosted the WWE Hall of Fame red carpet pre-show for six years in a row (2014-2019). She also appeared during the event as a guest backstage interviewer forWrestleMania 31,WrestleMania 32 andWrestleMania 33. In 2016, Menounos appeared in one episode of theWWE Network'sSwerved and was a backstage interviewer forSummerSlam. On January 28, 2018, she was the special guest ring announcer for the first-ever women'sRoyal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble.
In a 2008NBC interview, Menounos shared she has been involved in charity work since age 13 and has always wanted to be able to help many causes in the charity world.[38]
Menounos founded the charity "Take Action Hollywood!" after her trip toSouth Africa, where she reported on the effects of theAIDS crisis there.[39] She created the Cosmo Girl Cup, a national, annual competition and award given to the group of teens who do the most in their communities to affect for positive social change.[40] Menounos presented at the Earth Day Network's Climate Rally in Washington, DC on April 25, 2010.[41] in 2012 Menounos took part in Red Cross's and AMC joint effort to raise awareness for donating blood.[42]
In 2012, Menounos posed nude for the May issue ofAllure magazine.[43] In the same year, Menounos toldHoward Stern that she had previously been sexually abused by two doctors during medical examinations.[44]
In April 2017, she had surgery to remove ameningioma, an intracranial tumor which was benign.[45][46] In January 2023, she was diagnosed withstage IIpancreatic cancer and underwent surgery. The cancer was found on a whole body MRI screening, after being missed earlier on a hospital-orderedCT test.[47][48]
Menounos marriedKeven Undergaro inTimes Square during the 2017New Year's festivities in a ceremony officiated bySteve Harvey[49] and then again in a 2018Greek Orthodox wedding in her father's village ofAkovos,Greece.[50] On February 7, 2023, Menounos and her husband announced they were having a baby with the aid of a surrogate.[51]
Menounos announced her dual citizenship between the United States and Greece on May 19, 2023.[52]
She wasSpike TV's 2005 "Cyber Vixen of the Year",[53] and the 2010Madden NFL Pro-AM MVP.[54] In 2014Extra, which she co-hosts, won the Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Entertainment News Program.[55]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Fantastic Four | Nurse | |
| 2006 | Fwiends.com | Gladys | Short film |
| 2007 | Kickin' It Old Skool | Jennifer | |
| In the Land of Merry Misfits | Risandra | Voice role | |
| 2008 | Tropic Thunder | Herself | Cameo appearance |
| 2011 | Adventures of Serial Buddies | Katelyn | |
| 2012 | The Elders | Producer | Producer |
| 2013 | Paranormal Movie | Dr. Luni | |
| 2015 | Entourage | Herself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Channel One News | Herself | Host |
| 2002–2005 | Entertainment Tonight | Correspondent | |
| 2002 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Reporter #1 | Episode: "Free Sabrina" |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Chris Sanders | Episode: "Trip Box" |
| Punk'd | Herself | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | One on One | Glenda | Episode: "We'll Take Manhattan" |
| 2004–2005 | One Tree Hill | Emily "Jules" Chambers | 10 episodes |
| 2005–2011 | Access Hollywood | Herself | Correspondent |
| 2006 | Eurovision Song Contest | Co-host | |
| Scrubs | Tamara | Episode: "My Extra Mile" | |
| Entourage | Herself | Episode: "Aquamom"; cameo appearance | |
| 2007 | Clash of the Choirs | Herself/host | |
| 2009 | Knight Rider | DEA Agent Jessie Renning | Episode: "Fly by Knight" |
| 2009–2011; 2021– | The Challenge | Herself | Host of Reunion episodes |
| 2009–2012 | The Real World | ||
| 2009 | WWE Raw | Co-Host/Herself | Special |
| 2010 | Entourage | Herself | Episode: "Buzzed"; cameo appearance |
| 2011–2014 | Extra | Herself/host | |
| 2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Talk Show Host | "Paco Dances" segment |
| 2012 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode: "The All of Our Senses Club"; cameo appearance |
| Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Season 14 contestant | |
| WrestleMania XXVIII | Herself | Wrestled withKelly Kelly to faceBeth Phoenix andEve | |
| Louie | Entertainment news anchor | Episode: "Late Show: Part 2 & 3" | |
| 2012–2013 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Herself | Guest appearance |
| 2013 | WWE Hall of Fame | Herself | InductedBob Backlund |
| The Eric Andre Show | Herself | Episode: "Maria Menounos;Eric Balfour" | |
| Hell's Kitchen | Herself | Episode: "7 Chefs Compete Part 2"; Chef's table guest in the blue kitchen | |
| The Mindy Project | Herself | 2 episodes | |
| 2013–2014 | Nashville | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2017 | Live from E! | Herself | Co-host |
| 2014 | Chasing Maria Menounos | Herself | |
| 2014–2015 | Bar Rescue | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | WWE Hall of Fame | Herself | Co-Host of the Red Carpet Pre-Show on the WWE Network |
| Ridiculousness | Herself | Guest | |
| Untold | Herself | Host | |
| Botched | Herself | Host of the two-part reunion episode | |
| 2015 | The Celebrity Apprentice 7 | Herself | Guest donor for Team Infinity on Episode 1 |
| Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | C.J. Sorkin | Television film | |
| WrestleMania 31 | Herself | Guest backstage interviewer | |
| Total Divas | Herself | 1 episode | |
| 2015–2017 | E! News | Herself | Anchor |
| 2016 | Cupcake Wars | Herself | Celebrity baker |
| Have You Been Paying Attention? | Herself | Guest quiz master | |
| 2017 | Total Bellas | Herself | Episode: "Bella-Mania" |
| 2018 | Royal Rumble | Herself | Guestring announcer |
| 2019 | Ryan's Mystery Playdate | Reporter | Episode: "Ryan's Camera Ready Playdate/Ryan's Rattlin' Playdate" |
| 2020 | The Boys | Herself | Episode: "Nothing Like It in the World" |
| 2021 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune | Herself | Episode: "Constance Zimmer, Maria Menounos, andYvette Nicole Brown" |
| The Challenge: All Stars | Herself | Reunion show host | |
| The Holiday Fix-Up | Jenny | Television film | |
| 2022 | The Pentaverate | Herself | 6 episodes |
| 2022 | The Holiday Dating Guide | Abigale Slater | Television film |
| 2023 | The Challenge: Ride or Dies | Herself | Reunion show host |
| 2023 | Miss Universe 2023 | Herself | Final Show Co-Host |
| 2024 | Christmas at Plumhill Manor | Margot Stone | Television film |
| 2025 | I'll Be Home for Margarita Day | Liz | Television short |
| Year | Title | Voice Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | James Bond 007: From Russia with Love | Eva Adara | Also Likeness |
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)
,Internet Wrestling Database| Preceded by | Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest presenter (withSakis Rouvas) 2006 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
