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Maria Menounos (born June 8, 1978) is an American actress, journalist, and television presenter. A 5’8” Greek stunner who racked up her share of beauty pageants wins, Maria Menounos parlayed her exotic good looks and a life-long passion for journalism into a winning broadcast combination. Her work reporting from the red carpet on “Entertainment Tonight” opened all kinds of doors to the TV reporter, including acting, producing and even directing. Menounos, a Greek American, was born in Medford, Massachusetts. In 1995, Menounos began to compete in beauty pageants. The following year, she won the title of Miss Massachusetts Teen USA and competed at Miss Teen USA where she failed to place in the top 10. Menounos did however place in the top 15, receiving an honorary mention, during the preliminary competition; Menounos placed 13th in preliminaries. The pageant was won by Christie Lee Woods. Maria would go on to compete for the title of Miss Massachusetts USA 2000; she placed as the 1st runner up. Later Menounos attended Boston's Emerson College where she participated in the NOW award winning organization, Emerson Independent Video. During her senior year, she was hired as a reporter for Channel One News. Her work for Channel One's 10-minute segments included traveling to El Salvador to report on the earthquake of 2001 and interviewing President George W. Bush. While enrolled at Emerson College in Boston, she produced and provided voice talent for radio shows both on and off-campus. Her love of on-air reporting ran deep. By her senior year, she was tapped to join “Channel One News,” a news program geared toward school children, where, as an international correspondent, she covered an earthquake in El Salvador and even interviewed President George W. Bush. On top of reporting, the then 17-year-old found time to produce a 35 mm independent film, “In the Land of the Merry Misfits.” Unfortunately, the film negative was stolen and the film never completed, but her work on it helped her land future jobs, including the “Channel One” gig. The loyal reporter never forgot the film or the film's director. In 2005, the now financially sound Menounos personally funded the recovery and restoration of the film, expected to be completed in 2006. Entertainment Tonight hired Menounos as a correspondent in 2002, where she reported on movies, music and fashion. ET executives offered her a hosting gig for ET on MTV & VH1; she left the program in 2005 to focus on her acting career, though she would eventually be joining rival program Access Hollywood later that Fall as a special correspondent. She went on to co-host a few episodes of the Today Show in the late summer and fall of 2006 as well as in April 2007. In 2003, Menounos appeared on the November 30 episode of Punk'd where she was one of many celebrities caught in the awkward and embarrassing "Red Carpet Interviews". In the summer of 2005, she appeared in the comic book film Fantastic Four, where she played a nurse who is romanced by the "Human Torch", played by Chris Evans. Her likeness and voice was featured in the 2005 Electronic Arts video game, From Russia with Love as Eva Adara, Red Grant's henchwoman, which stars Sean Connery as James Bond. She is also the spokesperson for Pantene hair products. Menounos presented the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest (along with Greek singer Sakis Rouvas) that took place in Athens. Menounos is a correspondent for The Today Show as well as Access Hollywood in an overall deal with NBC Universal to act in films and television shows. She also has recurring roles on CBS' Without a Trace and as Jules in the second season of The CW's One Tree Hill (during its run on The WB). Menounos also appeared on the Scrubs episode "My Extra Mile", which aired in May 2006 where she is attracted to John Dorian because she likes his hair. In 2006, Menounos appeared in the music video for "A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson. In April 27 2007, Maria starred in Kickin' It Old Skool. In 2007, Menounos continued in her run as international spokesperson doing print and television commercials for Pantene hair products as well as print ads for New York & Company. On December 17 - December 20 2007, Menounos hosted the reality game show miniseries Clash of the Choirs. She is represented by Creative Artists Agency. At the age of 17, Menounos produced In the Land of Merry Misfits, an independent film fairy tale. The 35mm feature film was produced by Menounos while attending Emerson College with director Keven Undergaro, then head writer for MTV's Singled 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 at Channel One News and at MTV (ET on MTV). Menounos, however, never forgot the film or the film's director. In 2005, Menounos personally funded the recovery and restoration of the film, which was narrated by John Waters and starred an eclectic group in the Waters vein - including former WWE champion Bob Backlund, actress Josie Davis from the TV show "Charles in Charge" and B-movie icon Randal Malone. The film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Menounos also directed Longtime Listener starring Wilmer Valderrama. The film is an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival 2006. Menounos appeared in FHM magazine and in People magazine in 2004 as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People." In another poll conducted by askmen.com, Menounos was voted one of the top five girls a guy would most want to marry, along with Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Jessica Alba. She has also beaten Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron for "Cyber Vixen of the Year" on Spike TV's video game awards. Menounos founded the charity "Take Action Hollywood!" after her trip to South Africa. Reporting on the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis she was inspired to create TAH!, a charity that utilizes the power of the entertainment industry and the medium of film to affect for positive social change. Maria also 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. Speaks Greek, English and Spanish. Worked at Dunkin Donuts, making and selling donuts through junior high and high school. In May 2008, played in the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open, but was eliminated in the qualifying round |
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