The charmed life of Maria Menounos is the epitome of the American Dream. Her personal story growing up in a country with working-class immigrant parents trying to make ends meet is definitely one to embrace. Her ideals and visions are nothing short of admirable. Maria’s commendable determination in life is an ongoing process and her book The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life (It Books, $19.99, 978-0061870781, 320 pages) imparts this priceless character trait and vision to her readers.

I honestly was taken aback by her surprisingly down-to-earth aura. As a regular correspondent to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and especially considering the divas attendant with that scene, this woman incredibly was unaffected and had not the slightest of arrogance in her demeanor. At age 22, Maria was the youngest person to host Entertainment Tonight and among the youngest to report for NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News. In addition to all these, Maria is also a movie producer.

She was a fountain of knowledge at her Book Passage signing at the San Francisco Ferry Building a couple of days ago and answered questions for more than an hour providing her audience with sage advice on a range of topics including family, relationships, career, friends and love. Perhaps what really amazed me was the fact that she knew and really bonded with her audience a.k.a. her twitter followers and that she knew them by heart as they introduced themselves to her. That’s quite rare to see in celebrities, but then again this is probably the reason why people and especially girls constantly gravitate towards her.

Maria’s book couldn’t have come at a better time. With my own 13-year old girl going through all the usual teenage issues right now, I am grateful for the chapters on emotional foundation. Maria had a remarkable way of reaching out to kids in the audience, and in the back of my mind I kept telling myself “she’s like the big sister I never had…”

Despite her exposure to countless luminaries and authorities, Maria stays humble and true to her roots explaining that her parents were and will always be her heroes. More often than not, the entertainment world is embroiled in frivolous and shallow issues and it’s easy to be caught and be enslaved to it. Because Maria clearly displays a strong sense of self-worth, it is no wonder she constantly radiates not just physical beauty but inner beauty and grace as well. Her book is a must-have and a truly beneficial manual for all girls ages 10-99 to navigate life in the best ways possible!

Words from a fan…

Maria with Stephanie Moran

“Meeting Maria Menounos was an absolutely refreshing and an enlightening experience. She’s a successful Hollywood journalist who has interviewed celebrities on the red carpet to the first family at the white house while staying true to her humble Greek roots. She’s an excellent role model for women of any age!”

“I was extremely impressed with her knowledge and passion during the Q & A session. “The Everygirl’s Guide to Life” is a unique and well-written book that tackles every girl’s issues from organizing your home and life to shopping to makeup to cooking to exercise tips. My favorite part of the book is “EVERYGIRL BUSINESS”. I love all the advice she gives on how to be business-savvy at home and at work. An excellent quote from this chapter is” Instead of believing in Santa, Believe in yourself. You are the only one who can improve things in your life”(p. 225) – Stephanie Moran

Speaking to the crowd and answering questions