Giuliana Rancic: The Transformation Of The Iconic E! News Anchor

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Giuliana Rancic (born Giuliana DePandi in 1974) is the epitome of the American dream. The former "E! News" anchor, who was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. at age seven, recalled to People, "... when we moved to America I loved everything about this notion of Hollywood." That determined youngster not only went on to make Hollywood her home for years, but also cemented her place by rubbing shoulders with A-List celebrities, interviewing everyone from George Clooney to Kim Kardashian. She's also stepped away from the microphone and has been involved in a plethora of business projects, from wine and clothing lines to highly successful restaurants.

A lot of what got Rancic so far is the example of hard work set by her family. "My dad is a huge inspiration to me. He is a master tailor from Italy and at 82 years young has a beautiful men's clothing boutique called Depandi," she told Forbes. "He's worked in a tailor shop since he was 11 years old and is just an incredible man who loves his job. Having him as a role model certainly impacted my life and my entrepreneurial spirit," she added. It's clear from Rancic's stunning transformation that showing up, working hard, and being open with her fans about the ups and downs of her life have been pillars of her growth.

After Rancic emigrated from Italy with her family, she spent much of her early years in Maryland learning English from TV. She told Helen Jon she'd watch "Sesame Street" and news programs to become fluent, and she quickly developed big dreams of appearing on the small screen. "I watched news programs hosted by women and found them very interesting. I use to envision myself as a TV reporter, practicing in front of the bathroom mirror," she wrote in her memoir "Going Off Script" (via Strauss Scoliosis Correction).

But her childhood wasn't without struggle. Rancic opened up to Seventeen about her self-esteem issues, sharing, "I never thought I was pretty enough. I was kind of tall and lanky ... back in the day I hated it." Then, at 13, she was diagnosed with scoliosis, which sees the spine twist and curve. Rancic told People she would constantly think about her back condition and noted, "[As a teen] I tried to enter pageants and audition for movies and model, because I think I was hoping someday someone would tell me I was pretty. I just wasn't. I was crooked ... I was called ugly my entire life."

Rancic also elaborated on the difficult time in her book. "I endured a lot of pain having scoliosis. I went through high school in a body cast and this caused me to lack self-confidence," she wrote. But Rancic used her health crises positively. "Although living with scoliosis was tough, it made me stronger and pushed me towards attaining my dreams ... Over time, I developed confidence and this inspired me to pursue a TV career," she explained.

In the '90s, Rancic got to work making her TV dreams a reality. "I was probably a B student in high school, but it wasn't until I got to college that I said, 'Oh! This is what it's all about.' And then I became an A student. I studied journalism ... and that's what really kicked it into high gear," she told Seventeen. Around 1995, though, Giuliana had a major operation to treat her scoliosis, which put her out of action for a while. "I underwent surgery in which two rods were inserted beside my spine. I was hospitalized for three weeks and was under bed rest for three months," she recalled in "Going Off Script" (via Strauss Scoliosis Correction).

But Rancic didn't let her health troubles slow her down. The then-future TV star obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a master's in journalism from American University. Though she'd eventually end up in Hollywood, her career prospects looked very different during her time at American University. "Each day, we would choose a different beat to cover: the Supreme Court, the Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, or Capitol Hill ... Being part of that program gave me a solid foundation and truly shaped me as a journalist," she told the Chicago Tribune. But despite dipping her toe into political reporting, young Rancic was still dazzled by the bright lights of Hollywood. "After grad school I moved to L.A. on a whim to pursue TV hosting, and it was incredible," she told People.

In 2005, Rancic landed her big break as anchor and managing editor of the entertainment news show "E! News." "It was the lowest-rated show on the network and two weeks away from being cancelled," she recalled to Daily Mail of the dire straits the show was in when she started. But she turned it around by incorporating more gossip and lifestyle elements. 

That first year with E!, she was tasked with interviewing "The Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic — who would eventually become her husband. "I would watch ['The Apprentice'] with my girlfriend Colette every week, and Colette's like, 'You need to marry him.' I'm like, 'I do need to marry him,'" Rancic recalled to HuffPost Live, revealing she jumped at the chance to meet Bill. "E! News" cameras caught every moment of their meet-cute, in which the two even joked about tying the knot. "Do you want to get married?" "The Apprentice" star asked the journalist, who admitted she had a soft spot for businessmen. "What if I proposed?" he added. "Do we make a good couple?" The journalist then quipped, as they leaned into one another.

Little did they know then that the businessman would propose. The two started dating shortly after the interview, and he popped the question in 2006. "It was the most amazing moment of my entire life. Not only is Bill the love of my life, but he's also my best friend. I couldn't believe my dream guy was asking me to marry him!" Rancic told People. That same year, Rancic added author to her résumé when she released her first book, the dating guide "Think Like A Guy: How to Get a Guy By Thinking Like One."

Now a household name thanks to her nightly celebrity news updates, Rancic invited the world to her wedding. She and Rancic tied the knot in Italy in 2007, and the lead-up and ceremony aired as part of the Style network special "Married Away: Giuliana and Bill's Italian Wedding." The Rancics' wedding special was such a hit that the couple decided to invite cameras into their lives on a more permanent basis. In 2009, they launched their own Style Network reality show, "Giuliana & Bill." "It's real and fun and positive. It's not dirty, it's not negative. There's no faking these dirty fights that a lot of these shows are doing now," Rancic told TV Guide of the series, which followed the ups and downs of their married life as they grappled with her living in Los Angeles and her husband in Chicago.

However, Rancic later admitted that everything wasn't quite as it seemed on the show, which ran for seven seasons. In "Going Off Script," she admitted her husband didn't initially want a reality show and even confessed to faking some scenes (which is a major red flag we noticed in the Rancics relationship). "We'd have to pretend we weren't p****d off when the crews arrived, and sit and talk about our day," she wrote. "From the get-go, 'Giuliana & Bill' was a major bone of contention between us, and we argued about it constantly," she added (via Radar Online).

In interviews and on "Giuliana & Bill," the couple opened up about expanding their family, joining the list of celebrities who have shared the reality of their fertility journey. Sadly, Rancic experienced a miscarriage in 2010 following IVF treatment. "As a woman you blame your body, you blame yourself, and I was riding that wave for a while and I was playing the blame game," she told Radar Online. But the star remained focused on the positives. "The fact that I really do feel happier than I've felt in years, I feel like it really was part of a bigger plan, and I don't know what that plan is but whatever it is, we're fine with it," she said. 

Rancic explained she and her husband were taking a break from treatments, as IVF can take a major physical and emotional toll on the body. "This break, which has only been a few months, was so incredibly necessary after two years of shots and being a lab rat and going in and out of doctors' offices and mood swings," she explained. That same year, Rancic expanded her TV repertoire with a big new gig. She began appearing on E!'s celebrity fashion commentary series "Fashion Police" alongside the late Joan Rivers. "It's a racy show and people don't hold back," she told the Miami Herald.

Amid Rancic's heartbreaking fertility struggles, she announced on "Today" in 2011 that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram as part of her IVF journey (we've got the answers to all your burning mammogram questions). Rancic confirmed she would have surgery and six weeks of radiation therapy, but discovered the day after her "Today" appearance that she actually needed a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. "I wanted to yell from a rooftop and cry and scream," she told Glamour of learning the news. She also spoke candidly about recovering after surgery, sharing, "I was screaming and crying. I had four drains under and above my breasts, and they're stitched into your skin. When you try to get up, the drains pull and you feel like knives are poking you inside. As soon as I got up, I threw up."

However, Rancic maintained a positive mindset, returning to "E! News" two weeks post-surgery, reminding us of the celebs who have inspired us with their powerful cancer journeys. "Some people said how brave I was to go back to work so soon, but it wasn't about being brave. I wanted to stay busy, so I wasn't focusing on it," she told The Los Angeles Times. Rancic was also determined to give back to others in similar situations. She founded the program Fab-U-Wish, which grants wishes to those experiencing breast cancer. 

The Italian native later got candid about how she felt after being told she was cancer-free and the impact cancer had on her life. "Those first 5 years, I was just thinking about breast cancer — I was consumed by it. I was probably thinking about it ... it felt like every minute of the day," she told People. 

Despite the turbulence in Rancic's personal life, her busy schedule didn't slow down. In addition to appearing on "E! News," she and her husband ventured into the restaurant business. They opened RPM Italian in Chicago in 2012, which was inspired by Rancic's mom's Italian recipes. The venture proved to be one of the couple's most lucrative moves as, within eight years, RPM had expanded to include five restaurants and an event space. 

Also in 2012, Giuliana and her husband experienced a dream come true when they confirmed they were expecting their first child together via a gestational surrogate. "We are so thrilled that our prayers have been answered," Rancic told E! News. They welcomed their son in August 2012. "Bill and I are blessed beyond words to welcome Edward into our lives. Thank you so much to everyone who supported us along the way. We are so in love with the little guy already!" the giddy new mom exclaimed to E! News.

Two thousand and twelve was a busy year for the then-new mom, as she also launched her own fashion collection with HSN, G by Giuliana. The following year, Rancic opened up to The Los Angeles Times about how much her style had transformed following so many huge life changes. "I like baggy boy trousers, baseball hats and dark glasses. All black," she said. "... I think that when I am on camera, there is an expectation of heels and dresses, to some extent, but my style has evolved on set too. It's more structured and not so frilly."

The husband-and-wife duo called time on "Giuliana & Bill" in 2014. She explained to HuffPost they ended their reality show to give their son more privacy, and also allow Rancic to focus on other business ventures, including her wine brand, XO, G. The following year though, she experienced the dark side of fame after making comments about Zendaya on "Fashion Police." "I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed," Rancic remarked, inappropriately stereotyping the actor's dreadlocks (despite the stunning hair look being one of Zendaya's most gorgeous). 

Zendaya retorted in a lengthy Instagram post, writing, in part, "I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect ... to me, locs are a symbol of strength and beauty." Rancic apologized on X, tweeting, "I'm sorry I offended you and others. I was referring to a bohemian chic look. Had NOTHING to do with race and NEVER would!!!" She also spoke about the intense backlash to People, sharing that she received death threats over the incident. "It was horrifying to have my name in a headline with words I have never been associated with in my life," she said, noting she didn't write the joke and felt the moment wasn't edited fairly.

Also in 2015, Rancic had a major career shakeup when she announced she was leaving "E! News" (though she continued presenting E!'s red carpet coverage and "Fashion Police," which ended in 2017). She also announced plans to expand her presence behind the camera. "I am excited to ... executive produce the aspirational new show 'Rich in Faith' for Oxygen as well as take my wine and clothing lines to the next level," she said in a statement (via CNN).

After leaving "E! News," Rancic moved to Chicago after she and her husband spent the first few years of their marriage splitting time between the Windy City and Los Angeles. "I get to make Chicago my home base ... That, in itself, will slow me down a bit. I just want to be more settled," she told "Good Morning America." She added of their son, who was 2 years old at the time, "He knows when mommy is not home." But Rancic's more settled life in Chicago got disrupted in 2018 when she made the surprise announcement she'd be returning to "E! News" as an anchor. "Returning to host E! News is every bit as thrilling to me today as it was 16 years ago when I joined the show and embarked on this wonderful career," she told The Hollywood Reporter.

The following year, though, Rancic confirmed she was leaving the show (again) when production moved from L.A. to New York. "The decision ... was one that really came from wanting to be with family more, and focusing and spending as much time as possible with family," she told People. "And then also having that flexibility to give 100 percent to our restaurants and our other businesses," she added, which included launching her own skincare line, Fountain of Truth, that year. At the time, she confirmed she would stay with E! for the network's red carpet coverage, but she would leave that gig behind in 2021. Instead, she revealed on Instagram she'd landed a new production job with NBCUniversal.

Rancic began living a quieter life in Chicago after putting E! in her rear-view mirror. "I remember doing red carpet interviews and I'm in a gown and millions of people are watching all around the world live. I'm interviewing the biggest star in the world and I'm thinking to myself, 'This is so great, but I can't wait until one day I'm going to be able to sit at home and watch this," she told People of her decision to step back.

But she was still busy. In addition to turning 50 in style in 2024, she also upped her workload with HSN. The former reality star launched her own home line, G by Giuliana Home, which allowed her more time with her family than when she lived and worked part-time in L.A. Rancic also announced she'd be appearing on two new shows with her husband, both filmed in Chicago. She shared the news on Instagram, telling her followers, "Catch the latest in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle on ['Life+Leisure'] and dive into the world of tech, healthcare, and cutting-edge business on ['Inside Business Today']."

Rancic was focused on giving back, too. Also in 2025, she and her husband joined forces with the non-profit Wings of Rescue, which provides flights to move animals in overcrowded shelters so they can be adopted. Rancic, who adopted a dog herself, told People. "This mission changed me ... but my real hope is that one day, missions like this won't even be necessary." Though she may not be in the spotlight as much as she once was, clearly, Rancic is as busy as ever — and she's showing no signs of slowing down.