Menounos on Next ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Medford native, actress, and entertainment news host Maria Menounos will join the next cast of “Dancing with the Stars.”

The “Extra” host will compete with pro Derek Hough. Menounos tweeted a photo of herself and Hough together and said “Yay!” Menounos spoke about being on the show with another “Extra” host.

Menounos is a 1996 Medford High School graduate who went on to Emerson College before launching a TV and movie career. She has appeared in several movies and TV shows and is the youngest person ever to co-host Entertainment Tonight. She would also later report for Today, Dateline and Nightly News.

Menounos founded Take Action Hollywood! in an effort to mobilize celebrities to support various causes. Menounos has been active in supporting diabetes research, AIDS relief awareness, and preventing animal cruelty, among other causes.

Menounos is also the New York Times bestselling author of the self-help book, The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life.

While a student at MHS, Menounos played basketball, sang in the church choir, and worked for Dunkin’ Donuts.

– InsideMedford.com