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Kelly Ripa

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Kelly Maria Ripa is a prominent American actress and television host. She is a central figure in American media, recognized for her long-standing presence on television. Ripa is best known for her work as a co-host on the syndicated morning talk show, Live! Since 2001, she has helped lead the program through various formats and partnerships. Her influence in the industry was noted in 2014 when The Hollywood Reporter named her one of the Most Powerful People in Media.

Kelly Ripa, Red Dress Collection 2007 140x190
Kelly Ripa, Red Dress Collection 2007 140x190

Her career began with dance and local theater in New Jersey. In 1986, she gained national exposure as a regular dancer on Dancin' On Air, which led into Dance Party USA. During this time, she actually hoped to become a newscaster. Her acting career took off in 1990 when she was cast as Hayley Vaughan on the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children. She played this role for twelve years, ending in 2002, before returning for a brief appearance in 2010. She also starred in the sitcom Hope & Faith from 2003 to 2006, playing Faith Fairfield. Ripa even appeared in the 1996 film Marvin's Room alongside actors Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The most significant turning point in her career occurred in late 2000. Following the departure of Kathie Lee Gifford, host Regis Philbin began searching for a new co-host. Ripa participated in an on-air audition on November 1, 2000. This debut was highly memorable because a guest, psychic Char Margolis, guessed that Ripa was pregnant. Ripa jokingly replied that she had not told her boss yet. Philbin later stated that Ripa was the clear choice among many candidates. She was officially announced as the replacement on February 5, 2001. Within months, the show's young-audience demographics increased by 80 percent.

For many years, Ripa and Philbin shared a successful partnership on Live! with Regis and Kelly. Their chemistry and discussions about family and New York City attracted a loyal viewership. The show averaged approximately 6 million viewers every day. When Philbin retired in November 2011, Ripa took over as the lead host. She reminisced about the 43 steps they walked together from her dressing room to the set each day. After Philbin's departure, the show became Live! with Kelly. It has since featured various co-hosts, including Michael Strahan, Ryan Seacrest, and her husband, Mark Consuelos.

Beyond hosting, Ripa is a successful producer through her company, Milojo Productions. She founded the company in 2007 with her husband, Mark Consuelos. They named the business after their three children: Michael, Lola, and Joaquin. The company produced the 2008 documentary The Streak, which focused on a high school wrestling team's 34-year winning streak. Milojo also developed non-scripted series for the Discovery Channel. Their work includes projects like the docu-series Masters of Reception and the series Exhumed. They even collaborated on a short film titled "The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee," which earned over 1,000,000 views.

Ripa's professional achievements are marked by numerous awards and honors. She has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards throughout her career. These include awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host and Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. She also won an Emmy for co-hosting the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade from 2001 to 2009. In 2010, the Broadcast Pioneers inducted her into their Hall of Fame. Additionally, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 12, 2015. She was also honored by the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017.

Even in her personal life, Ripa has participated in unique public moments. In 2006, she set a Guinness World Record by having twenty-four banana-cream pies tossed at her mouth in one minute. She also attempted a record for most grapes trodden in one minute, extracting 8.4 liters of juice. Ripa and Consuelos married in 1996 after meeting on the set of All My Children. They have raised three children together. Her career demonstrates how a background in performing can lead to significant influence in the modern media landscape.

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File:Kelly Ripa, Red Dress Collection 2007 140x190.jpg
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