You've seen it all over Facebook. You've seen the Tweets. I got the text messages. I've accepted the reality of it. I've come to the state of happiness of what the future holds, but it doesn't mean I'm not sad. Giuliana Rancic is leaving E! News as an anchor.
Rancic is my biggest role model, my inspiration, and often times, my reasoning behind things that I do (I realize it sounds a bit creepy). My liking -- okay, obsession -- for her began when I was a sophomore in high school. I spent many afternoons watching E! learning all the latest celebrity gossip, when I realized I took more of a liking to the E! News scenes with the anchors in them, rather than the scenes with the celebrities. I loved the way Rancic seemed like she knew all and, although, she was giving out tons of information, every new sentence caught my attention. She seemed so in with all the celebs and was so casual around them, and she's gorgeous.
So I did what all normal people do, I began my research project on her. I quickly realized she was married to Bill Rancic, the first winner of the "Apprentice" that my mom and I so desperately rooted for and quickly fell in love with. She was also Italian, which is my favorite culture and one I so desperately wish I was part of. And to top it all of, she's Catholic and so open about it. A celebrity, who lives in California and is a practicing Catholic? Now that's something you don't often hear of, but makes me elated.
I vividly remember thinking that's who I want to be when I grow up. And so it began. I started taking a journalism class, began watching Giuliana & Bill religiously, watched E! News almost every day, kept up with my celebrity news (and real news), bought her and Bill's first book (which by the way, is a marriage advice book, but I still read it cover to cover), and I read every article that she had been featured in since her career began. She was real. She was genuine. She made mistakes. She didn't have life handed to her. She had a story.
A story that still hasn't stopped. Most people know her today as the E! Anchor, who had breast cancer, couldn't get pregnant, and said something rude about Zendaya. But she's so much more than that to me. She's an incredible journalist who's worked hard to achieve what she has today. She gets deep with the celebrities she interviews, she pushes the boundaries and allows us to understand them as real people, with real feelings, and real experiences. And she's battled cancer, and the emotional roller coster of not being able to have children like a boss. She's incredible at what she does, and she's inspired me in so many ways, but all good things must come to an end.
Rancic announced she was leaving E! News as their regular anchor last week and many angry thoughts crossed my mind. How could she do this to me? Why didn't see let me know? (A text would've been nice, G) Where will I go from here? Where will E! News go from here? Then it hit me, if this is what G wants, I'm happy for her, and I have to stop being selfish about what I want. Duke is getting older, she wants to be in Chicago with her family, and she wants to have life. I get it and I am okay with it. People aren't understanding that she'll still be doing what she does best, red carpet appearances and Fashion Police. We'll still see the Rancic family and their fun adventures on Giuliana & Bill and I know one day we'll finally become the best of friends like I've always known will happen. I'm sad to see her go, but happy to see what the future holds for her. She achieved her dream and that's something not many people get to say, but is so inspirational.
I've cried with her. I've laughed with her. I've read about her. I've admired her. I've been inspired by her. But now, I have to say goodbye to the E! News daily anchor, Giuliana Rancic.
In efforts to make your sadness into happiness, enjoy these photos of me and G's interactions.