CCF Loves: Giuliana Rancic

CCF Loves has alway been a category where I can feature rad people you may not know who are doing cool things in Chicago. Today is sort of the opposite — someone you most likely recognize, but you might not know about the cool things she’s doing in Chicago…

You can’t really put a label on Giuliana Rancic — she is a host, a producer, an author, a restauranteur, a designer, a philanthropist, a spokesperson (just to name a few)…she really does it all. But the coolest part about it? She’s doing it all HERE in Chicago. Now that she moved here full time a few months back, she decided to move all of her businesses here too, including two of my favorite things — clothes (G by Giuliana) and wine (Xo G). As someone who hasn’t lived here very long, she already embraces all things Chicago and I feel like she’s a Chicagoan at heart. Just see for yourself!

What does Chicago mean to you?
I have traveled to some cool places around the world but I have yet to find a city that tops Chicago in terms of everything I am looking for. It has culture, great people, delish food, awesome shopping and tons of things for families to do and did I mention great people?  This city has become my new home and I couldn’t be happier.

What are your top three favorite things to do in the city?
On any given day, you can find me at Maggie Daley park with my husband and son, Duke or the Lincoln Park zoo. I’m also into contemporary art and a collector so the museums in town are an obvious answer. Oh, and just walking down the street in the Gold Coast on a crisp day is alright with me and always puts a smile on my face. I feel alive when I walk down the streets of chicago.

What’s the most memorable moment in your career so far?  
That’s a tough one. The first that comes to mind is when I was made the solo anchor and managing editor of E! News. The show was the lowest rated on the entire network and two weeks from cancelation. Within one year, I increased viewership by over 100 percent and made it the number one show on the network. Yeah, I would say that was pretty bad ass.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Any advice of your own for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Don’t try to be someone else.  That person already exists. Be your own cool, different, individual self in order to stand out and be noticed. My advice is take the word “no” out of your vocabulary when you are working your way up the ranks. So many young people feel entitled these days and don’t wanna do the work. I worked my ass off and had a smile on my face the whole time. I could always find a way to solve a problem or complete a task.  No was not an option.

What’s been your favorite red carpet moment of all time?
That’s another tough one. Julia Roberts and I giggling and laughing and talking fashion like we were old friends on live tv was pretty awesome, especially considering I idolized her growing up. And Sandra Bullock walking over to me, with a fresh golden globe in hand, and telling me that she watched Giuliana & Bill while taking a bath. Pretty cool, right? But nothing tops interviewing the New Kids on the Block for the first time. That was literally a dream come true!  I went to their concerts as a kid, had their posters plastered on my walls and even slept in NKOTB sheets at night. So yeah, it’s safe to say that was my biggest fan girl moment ever!!!  

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It’s always exciting to have a celebrity in Chicago, but it’s even better to have someone who loves this city as much as a born-and-bred-Chicagoan. And if you haven’t dined at RPM Italian / Steak, tried her wine, worn her clothes, bought her books, checked out her charity, or followed her on Instagram…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!