When Menounos was seventeen and a student at Boston's Emerson College, she produced the indie film fairy tale, In the Land of Merry Misfits. Her work on the film helped her land a reporting job at Channel One News during her senior year at Emerson, where she interviewed President George W Bush.

In 2002, Menounos was hired by entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight as a correspondent; where she covered music, fashion, and film. Menounos left Entertainment Tonight in 2005 to pursue a career in film, but instead, joined rival show, Access Hollywood as a correspondent. Menounos is currently a correspondent for The Today Show, as well as Access Hollywood simultaneously, as part of an umbrella deal with NBC Universal that includes both film and television.

Apart from reporting, Menounos has also acted in the 2005 Marvel comic movie, Fantastic Four, starring Jessica Alba; and was featured in the 2005 video game, From Russia with Love, along with Sean Connery and Natasha Bedingfield. Menounos also has recurring roles on two small-screen series, CBS's Without a Trace, and The CW's One Tree Hill. Menounos rounded out her resume in 2006 with a hosting/singing gig on Eurovision Song Contest, and an appearance in Jessica Simpson’s music video for "A Public Affair," also featuring Ryan Seacrest, Andy Dick, Christina Milian, Eva Longoria, and Christina Applegate.

In addition to acting, producing, and hosting, Menounos has also directed the film Longtime Listener, starring Wilmer Valderrama, selected for the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. The film tells the story of a basement-dwelling electronics store clerk who fantasizes about joining the world of talk radio.

As a brunette bombshell of Greek heritage, Menounos has been featured in the pages of FHM magazine, and was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 2004 by People magazine. She has also been named one of the top five girls a guy would most want to marry by askmen.com, alongside Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, and Jessica Alba.

Following a trip to South Africa, Menounos founded the charity Take Action Hollywood!, which mobilizes Hollywood star-power to stimulate social change. She has also founded the annual competition, Cosmo Girl Cup, which recognizes teens who have made a positive difference in their communities.

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