Maria Menounos

Maria Menounos (born on June 8, 1978 in Medford, Massachusetts) is an American actress/journalist/television presenter with Greek ancestry.

Related Topics:
June 8 - 1978 - Medford, Massachusetts - American - Greek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1995, Menounos began to enroll in beauty pageants. The following year, she won the title of Miss Massachusetts Teen USA. She enrolled at Boston's Emerson College. During her senior year, she was hired as a reporter for Channel One News, known as the top news source for American students. 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.

Related Topics:
1995 - Emerson College - Channel One News - El Salvador - Earthquake - 2001 - George W. Bush

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 be joining rival program Access Hollywood that fall as its special correspondent.

Related Topics:
Entertainment Tonight - 2002 - MTV - VH1 - Access Hollywood

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Menounos appeared in FHM magazine and in People magazine in 2004 as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People", as well as recurring roles on "Without A Trace" and One Tree Hill. It is rumored that she has or had a romance with Hollywood star Vin Diesel. At the 2004 Oscars she wore a diamond-studded dress worth more than $2.5 million.

Related Topics:
FHM - One Tree Hill - Hollywood - Vin Diesel - 2004 - Oscars

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the summer of 2005, she starred 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 will also be featured in 2005 EA video game, From Russia with Love which stars Sean Connery. She is also the spokesperson for Pantene hair products.

Related Topics:
2005 - Comic book - Fantastic Four - Chris Evans - From Russia with Love

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~