Maria Menounos thought she was busy. In her final semester at Emerson College in Boston during spring 2000, she juggled a full course load, a full-time reporting gig at Channel One News—complete with frequent travel for interviews—and finished as first runner-up for Miss Massachusetts. She still graduated.
That intense five-month period paled in comparison to the 17 years that followed. After relocating to Los Angeles, the daughter of Greek immigrants landed a correspondent role at Entertainment Weekly, transitioned into acting in TV and film, hosted for Access Hollywood, and even stepped into professional wrestling. More weeks than not meant seven days of 18+ hour days.
“I tried everything—too much of it,” Menounos reflects. “I endured toxic environments and pushed my limits relentlessly.”
Her work ethic was forged in Medford, Massachusetts, scrubbing nightclubs alongside her parents. “We worked 365 days a year,” she says. “Even Christmas mornings, we'd be knee-deep in trash. That immigrant drive... my parents had endless energy, shaping who I am from the start.”
For years, her life echoed Rocky Balboa: “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Then, “God sent a parachute.”
That parachute arrived unexpectedly: a brain tumor. On her 39th birthday in June 2017, she underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove it. Meanwhile, her mother, Litsa, fought stage 4 brain cancer. Instead of despair, Menounos laughed upon diagnosis—it felt surreal. Post-surgery, waking in recovery, she had an epiphany: the tumor was gone, recovery would be long, but she no longer chased the next gig obsessively.
“Since age 13, this was my dream, but like so many, I was trapped in it,” she explains. “I wasn't growing. Life felt unfulfilling, but I couldn't see it. Waking up, I realized I didn't need it all. This couldn't be life.”
Through recovery and transformation, she leaned on husband and business partner Keven Undergaro, whom she met in Boston while he filmed a movie and she earned college credits as a production assistant. “I fell in love instantly,” she says. They dated 18 years before marrying on Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey, with Harvey officiating. They plan to start a family soon. But first, in spring 2011, they built a much larger one.
Generations of Hollywood stars started as servers, but today's path includes hosting on AfterBuzz TV. Founded by Menounos and Undergaro, the streaming network boasts 20 million weekly downloads across 150 countries and employs 300 hosts—300 getting their entertainment industry break.
“We don't have kids yet, so they're our kids,” Menounos says. “Some lived with us; we've bailed others out of jail, covered medical bills. You can't buy that real-world experience—not from $150,000 film school or seminars. It's become a movement, a creative haven for young artists.”
The idea stemmed from their hobby: dissecting favorite shows like Lost and Breaking Bad. As message boards rose, Undergaro noted, “50% of sports fans tune into post-game coverage. Entertainment's no different. We'd play poker, everyone dissecting episodes, but no intimate space existed.”
Early shows aired from their home's makeshift studio. Today, AfterBuzz operates six state-of-the-art studios in its production facility, with expansion plans and first-time investors on the horizon.
For Menounos, active in over a dozen charities including Take Action Hollywood (founded post-South Africa trip), AfterBuzz is more than business—it's her passion: helping others. She's always game to lend time, advice, or impact.
“The biggest lesson from recent years? All that matters is who we help.”
Now cancer-free alongside her mother, Menounos works smarter. Life pushed her to the edge, but with fresh perspective, there's no room for complaints.
“None of the 'important' stuff—money, big houses—matters on deathbeds. No one wishes for more work,” she says. “Giving back, making an impact—it's a privilege. I never forget scrubbing clubs at 4 a.m.”
“All that matters is who we help.”
