Maria Menounos has announced that she has officially become a Greek citizen.
The Greek-American entertainment reporter, television personality, actress, and author made the announcement in a social media post, sharing a photo of herself standing in Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, holding her Greek passport.
"I’m so proud to officially be a Greek citizen! Where better to share this than in our motherland! Thank you to everyone at the Greek consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, especially Elena Meletiou and Maria Koukoutsi, for helping me and my family achieve this special honour," read her caption.
Menounos will now be a dual citizen of the US and Greece.
The good news comes after Menounos has faced a challenging year, having been confronted with a Stage 2 pancreatic cancer diagnosis and undergoing surgery, all while eagerly anticipating the arrival of her baby through surrogacy.
In an interview with People magazine, Menounos expressed her initial shock and devastation upon receiving the new diagnosis, saying, "I was feeling so good, and then I got slapped in the face with a new diagnosis. I'd scream out loud, I was inconsolable."
Last year, the former Extra and ENews! host had also been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that runs in her family. However, with the help of prescribed insulin and a strict diet, Menounos stated that she was successfully managing her health and feeling great by October.
Unfortunately, in November, Menounos found herself back in the hospital due to intense abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Despite undergoing numerous tests, the results remained inconclusive, prolonging her discomfort.
Determined to find answers, Menounos pursued further medical examinations, including a whole-body MRI. The results revealed a cancerous 3.9 cm mass on her pancreas, leaving her bewildered as she thought, "How in the freaking world can I have a brain tumour and pancreatic cancer? All I could think was that I have a baby coming."
Thankfully, the cancer was detected at Stage 2, enabling Menounos to undergo surgery. The procedure involved removing the tumour, along with a portion of her pancreas, spleen, a large fibroid, and 17 lymph nodes. Although the process was extremely painful, Menounos found solace in the support she received from loved ones. Her doctors have assured her that no further treatment is required, aside from annual scans over the next five years.
"I'm grateful for the miracle I've been granted," Menounos expressed. She plans to cherish her baby girl even more than she would have prior to this arduous journey. Currently, Menounos eagerly awaits the arrival of her daughter this summer, alongside her husband Keven Undergaro.
Born on June 8, 1978, in Medford, Massachusetts, United States. Menounos gained prominence as a correspondent and host on the entertainment news program "Entertainment Tonight" from 2002 to 2005.
She has since appeared on various television shows and networks, including co-hosting "Extra" and hosting the reality TV competition series "Chasing Maria Menounos." Menounos has also been a contributor and correspondent for networks such as NBC, E!, and the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).
Aside from her work in television, Menounos has appeared in films such as "Fantastic Four" and "Tropic Thunder" and has made guest appearances on popular TV shows like "One Tree Hill" and "Scrubs." In addition, she has written several books, including "The EveryGirl's Guide to Life" and "The EveryGirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness."
Maria Menounos is known for her enthusiastic and energetic hosting style and her versatility across different areas of the entertainment industry.
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