Chattanooga's She Expo guest Giuliana Rancic talks about cancer, new baby
Friday, January 1, 1904
Giuliana Rancic will be in Chattanooga July 21 for an appearance at the She expo.She: An Expo for Women
She is a two-day event featuring more than 160 vendors including nonprofits, local eateries and national retailers who will showcase, sample, sell and demonstrate their products and services.Mothers, daughters and girlfriends can enjoy a weekend getaway to focus on themselves. There will be cooking demonstrations and informative seminars highlighting topics that matter most to Southern women. After a fun-filled day of shopping and perusing vendor booths, attendees can take advantage of pampering opportunities including massages, manicures and pedicures.This annual event plays host to more than 10,000 women and has featured celebrity guests Stacy London of TLC's "What Not To Wear," celebrity chefs Paula Deen and Pat and Gina Neely, Jillian Michaels of "The Biggest Loser," "Skinnygirl" Bethenny Frankel and domestic guru Martha Stewart.This year's celebrity guests are Bill and Giuliana Rancic, author Nicholas Sparks and professional dancers Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas.If you go• What: She: An Expo for Women.• When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 21, noon-6 p.m. July 22.• Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza.• Admission: $10 online in advance, $12 at the door.• Website: www.timesfreepress.com/she.
Giuliana Rancic's life is an open book.
The "E! News" anchor and "Fashion Police" co-host is candid about most everything going on in her life. From her battle with breast cancer to her difficulties conceiving a child, the television personality said in an interview she hopes her experiences serve as an inspiration to others.
Rancic, along with her husband, Bill Rancic, the businessman who won the first season of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice," will be guest celebrities at She: An Expo for Women. The two-day showcase of products and services for women will be held July 21-22 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The Rancics, who star in their own reality show, "Giuliana and Bill," on Style Network, will be onstage Saturday to offer advice on how to be successful in today's fast-paced society, as well as share a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood.
Their current "project" together is readying for the arrival of their baby boy, via a gestational carrier, meaning the baby is biologically the Rancics'.
The former Giuliana DePandi, born in Naples, Italy, moved to the United States when she was a little girl. She learned to speak English by watching TV. She received a degree in journalism at University of Maryland and a master's degree in journalism from American University. While in graduate school, Giuliana worked for a Capitol Hill news bureau reporting on stories covering the Pentagon, Supreme Court, White House and State Department.
In her conversation with the Times Free Press, she talked about her personal life, the secret to her success and the actors she envisions in the movie adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey."
Q: You're obviously confident and outgoing and don't hesitate to share your ups and downs with the public. Why?
A: When I look back when I was younger, I was an open book. I was always incredibly candid and forthcoming. I never had a lot of secrets. I loved to share things and stories. Whenever anything happens, I don't hesitate to share it with others. I don't have to think long to go public whether it's good news or my struggles. I interviewed an actress recently who had a diagnosis she didn't want to talk about. She is very private and said her situation was hard to talk about. I respect that, but it's not who I am. I love sharing great news and difficult news because if what I'm going through helps others, then that's what I want to do. I really don't have a private life.
Q: To what do you credit your success?
A: Loving what I do. I encourage women to find out what you love to do and what you're good at and where your skills can best be applied. It's not difficult to have a career you enjoy doing, even if it's making crafts, doing something social or whatever. If you truly follow your passion, you'll be a success. I love going to work every day. I love all my different jobs. To be quite honest, if I worked a job I didn't enjoy, I'd cut it out.
Q: As a young girl, did you envision yourself being on TV?
A: Yes, since the third grade. I used to watch the nightly news on NBC in Washington, D.C., and I wanted to be (anchorwoman) Barbara Harrison. When people or my friends asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said "Barbara Harrison."
Q: Your fans have followed you through difficult times, most recently your battle with breast cancer and difficulties with fertility treatments. Recently, though, you and your husband announced that you have a baby boy due in late summer. Will you take some time off from work?
A: Definitely. The first couple months, we'll spend time with the baby and take time off. Once the baby is old enough to travel, he'll come with us. Meanwhile, we are planning for the baby, taking every precaution to make sure our nursery will be safe. I'm not as much into aesthetics as I am into safety. Safety first.
Q: In addition to you and your husband's already busy lives, I read that you're also selling your home.
A: We were actually renting the house for the past year. It's a smaller house. We bought a place nearby, and we're very excited. We're going to be moving soon, so things are kind of crazy right now, but we'll do it before the baby comes.
Q: You recently told Celebuzz that you were reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" and suggested Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Stewart should play the lead characters of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. How do you think this book of erotica will translate to the silver screen?
A: They (Hollywood) will be as literal as they can with the translation. They won't be able to scale back too much of the raciness -- they'll have to go for it and get a good R rating. Chris Hemsworth would be a great Christian Grey, and Kristen Stewart would be good, though there are others who would be good Anastasia, too. But Chris Hemsworth is the one and only Christian Grey.
Q: What's it like co-hosting TV shows with Ryan Seacrest and Joan Rivers?
A: Ryan is fantastic and the consummate professional. I've learned a lot working with him. He's professional on and off the camera.
Joan is an incredible woman -- such a professional. She just celebrated her 79th birthday. Joan has worked long in the business, and she's been so successful. She really sends a strong message that you should never stop growing. You have to be a 10, no matter what, because there's always someone waiting in the wings to replace you.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/karennazorhill.