Unbreakable Bond: Maria Menounos and Her Surrogate Share a Profound Connection, Solidifying a Lifelong Bond

Maria Menounos and husband Keven Undergaro developed a strong bond with their surrogate before the arrival of their first baby. In an exclusive interview with We magazine, the couple shared their journey to becoming parents and expressed their overwhelming joy when their daughter Athena Alexandra was born in June. Menounos, 45, described it as the most extraordinary moment of her life, while Undergaro, 55, compared it to the unmatched excitement of Christmas morning.

After struggling with infertility for a decade, Menounos made the exciting announcement in February that she and her spouse, Undergaro, who got married in 2017, were expecting a baby. Sharing her journey, Menounos revealed that she had almost lost hope in IVF and surrogacy until she was introduced to Family Match.

Describing the experience as truly magical, Menounos expressed her gratitude for finding a surrogate to carry her baby. Throughout the pregnancy, she would send voice recordings to be played for Athena.

Photography by John Chapple/MEGA

Menounos formed a profound bond with the woman, and their connection has endured even after the birth of Athena. “We hold immense love and affection for her and her family,” she added. “They bestowed upon us the most incredible gift of all. We continue to communicate regularly and consider them as part of our own family.”

The surrogate, who already had two children, spoke highly of Menounos and Undergaro, stating that she felt an immediate connection with them. She expressed her excitement in being able to support them and make their dream of starting a family a reality. Upon hearing about Menounos' difficulties in conceiving, the surrogate felt a strong desire to help her experience the joy of having a complete family. She considered her involvement in their journey to be an honor.

“Right after I delivered the baby, Maria cradled the little one in her arms while Keven embraced her, both their eyes filled with astonishment,” the surrogate recounted. “In that instant, we became a family. My only thought in that moment was ‘I achieved that! I orchestrated the creation of a family.’ I felt a bit like a superhero. My spouse and I feel immensely fortunate to have played a part in establishing their family.”

Photography by John Chapple/MEGA

Contrary to the mistaken belief that surrogacy is a detached experience, the gestational carrier emphasized the profound bond she formed with Menounos and Undergaro. Expressing her sentiment, she described the experience as beautiful and enriching. Prior to Athena's arrival, the surrogate and her husband made a trip to Los Angeles to visit Menounos and Undergaro, who reciprocated by traveling to Wisconsin to strengthen their bond with their surrogate.

"We spent quality time bonding with our families, allowing them to interact and become acquainted with each other in anticipation of the delivery," the surrogate fondly reminisced. "During those two weeks, Keven and Maria actively engaged with our children, enabling them to see them as genuine individuals. We enjoyed shared meals, engaging conversations, pleasant walks, and immersed ourselves in each other's lives." Menounos openly expressed her joyous surrogacy journey on Live With Kelly and Ryan in February, where she also gratefully received valuable advice from close friends Zoe Saldaña and Kim Kardashian, who shared their own experiences."

“Not having them would have made this impossible,” she expressed at that moment. “I feel incredibly thankful that our baby will have this larger family to be a part of, and we are sincerely grateful to all those who supported us throughout this journey.”

To learn more about Menounos and Undergaro's new journey as parents, watch the video above and grab the latest edition of We magazine, available now.