Los Angeles, CA – June 1, 2025 – Entertainment journalist and TV personality Maria Menounos took to social media to share a heartfelt reflection on her journey of healing, motherhood, and a striking new hairstyle, inspiring fans with her resilience and positivity. In a recent Facebook post, the 46-year-old opened up about her life two years after undergoing surgery for stage 2 pancreatic cancer, celebrating both her fading scars and the joy of raising her daughter, Athena Alexandra, born via surrogate in June 2023.
“New hair … old scars,” Menounos wrote, marking the two-year anniversary of her surgery. “I can’t believe how much has happened since then. I’ve healed and I have my miracle baby Athena. I woke up this morning so grateful I have the chance to be her mom. I am exploding with joy daily with her!” Her words reflect the profound gratitude she feels after overcoming significant health challenges, including a 2017 brain tumor removal and a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in early 2023.
Menounos also shared details of a bold transformation, detailing a visit to celebrity hairstylist Riawna Capri for a dramatic haircut and color change. “My hair was tired and stringy. Few grays popped up and it got brassy,” she explained. Opting for her shortest cut in years and a richer, darker hue reminiscent of her Pantene campaign days, Menounos embraced the spontaneous change. “No true plan it just kinda happened,” she noted, expressing delight in the vibrant new look. “I’m actually loving the shorter hair. Why was I so afraid of cutting it?”
The post took a deeper turn as Menounos reflected on overcoming fear, inspired by the quote, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” She admitted to forgetting this lesson but vowed to embrace challenges that scare her in the coming year. “I’m really going to try to do the things that scare me. Let’s see what happens,” she wrote, adding a heart emoji to underscore her optimism.
In addition to her new look, Menounos celebrated her minimalist approach to beauty, favoring a natural makeup style. “I’m also loving no makeup. As much as possible I’m going with just mascara and some cream blush!” she shared, encouraging fans to embrace authenticity.
The former E! News host’s journey to motherhood has been well-documented, marked by a decade of fertility struggles and health setbacks. After her 2017 brain tumor surgery, doctors advised against carrying a child, leading Menounos and her husband, Keven Undergaro, to welcome Athena via surrogate. Despite challenges, including judgment from friends about her surrogacy decision, Menounos has remained steadfast, cutting ties with those who questioned her choice.
