Maria Menounos Actor, Influencer

Although she’s most famously known as a TV presenter, Maria Menounos is a jack of many trades. Maria is also an actress and has made appearances in professional wrestling. She's also a New York Times bestseller with her book, The Everygirl's Guide to Life. Her life is characterised by hard work and determination, which makes her able to climb the top rank of the entertainment scene.

Body

Maria Menounos is known for her toned and athletic physique, which she maintains through a balanced fitness routine and a healthy lifestyle. Standing at around 5'8" (172 cm), she has a slender yet muscular build. Her body type is often categorized as a mesomorph. In 1995, Maria began to compete in beauty pageants, the following year Maria was the winner of the Miss Massachusetts Teen USA in 1996, reaffirming her combination of physical beauty, intellectual poise, and charismatic stage presence.

Diet

Maria Menounos's upbringing influenced her dieting routine. Her dad was diabetic, and her mom had to adapt to cooking a meal that was healthy for him while satisfying the rest of the family. Maria learnt to cook healthy meals by studying her mother, inspiring her drive to cook healthy foods and help others do so. Maria follows the 75/25 rule, which entails eating whole foods 75% of the time and other meals 25%. It allows her to stay healthy and keeps her in good shape.

Maria Menounos enjoys a Mediterranean-inspired diet that reflects her Greek heritage. Her favourite foods include almonds, smoothies, scrambled eggs, sushi and fresh fish. She particularly likes taking a nutrient-rich smoothie for breakfast.

"I try to watch my portions. And when I have a bad day or weekend, I'll be sure to eat clean the following week." - she says.

Exercise

Maria's tight daily schedule makes it challenging to dedicate much time to the gym, but she exercises regularly. Even if ten minutes on the treadmill is all that she has, she goes for it. She makes exercise a part of her daily routine. She enjoys yoga for flexibility and relaxation, making it a holistic part of her fitness regime to maintain both physical and mental wellness.

Maria uses a piece of equipment called Bala Bangles, a form of leg weights. That way, she keeps fit while going about her daily activities. Her dedication to fitness contributes to why she authored Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness. In the book, she divulged top diet and fitness secrets for anyone willing to get into the best shape of their lives.

Bio

Maria Menounos was born to Greek immigrants on August 6, 1978 in Medford, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. She grew up in a relatively humble family but was determined to make a good life for herself. Maria worked many jobs growing up, but her exploits in journalism gave her widespread fame.

She began her career at Channel One News, which she described as “a CNN for teens.” Her reporting skills quickly stood out, which took her to places. She's now globally renowned and is the CEO of her entertainment website, Afterbuzz TV, produced by her husband, Keven Undergaro. She is currently signed to WWE where she has served as an ambassador since 2013.

She married Keven in 2017 at Times Square NY, in a ceremony officiated by Steve Harvey. The couple now have a daughter with the aid of a surrogate after Maria faced several health challenges and fertility struggles. In 2017, she underwent surgery to remove a benign, golf-ball-sized brain tumour. Later, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and in 2023, she revealed that she had battled pancreatic cancer and had undergone surgery to remove a tumour.

Menounos founded the charity "Take Action Hollywood!" to raise awareness after visiting South Africa and witnessing the impact of the AIDS epidemic, and to support those who are affected by the crisis.