Melissa Rivers

Most people who see Melissa Rivers on the red carpet are unaware that she is not only a glamorous and beautiful style maven, but also an Ivy League graduate, single mother of a teenage son, author, television producer, and philanthropist.

Melissa has virtually been in the business since the day she was born in New York City. She attended grade school and high school in Los Angeles after her family relocated to Los Angeles when she was four. She attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where she studied European History and graduated with Distinction in Major in 1989.

Melissa’s professional accomplishments are extensive and inspiring. Together with her mother Joan Rivers, she created the Red Carpet franchise and phenomenon, developed the Special Series "A Conversation With" for Entertainment Tonight, and continues to produce and co-host E!’s Fashion Police. Rivers remains an in demand speaker, and is now the New York Times best-selling author of The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation (Crown Archetype), which debuted in May 2015.

In her current role as both an Executive Producer and Co-Host of E! Entertainment’s Fashion Police, Melissa shares with viewers her candor, quick wit and meticulous eye for fashion, which she honed throughout her years covering the red carpet for the TV Guide Channel and E!. She also starred opposite her mother for four seasons of WEtv’s hit reality series, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? In addition, she appeared on the third season of Celebrity Apprentice and traded places with Bristol Palin in Celebrity Wife Swap.

In her role as author, Melissa gave readers a first-hand, uplifting and humorous look at embracing life’s big moments with confidence, fun and style with her book, Red Carpet Ready: Secrets for Making the Most of Any Moment You’re in the Spotlight.

A confident and knowledgeable businesswoman, Melissa launched a curated fashion Web site, Shopparatti.com, and designed the chic fashion line The Cool People for Zappos, which was the online retailer’s first foray into clothing.

Through her devotion to animal advocacy, Melissa became a spokesperson and model for PETA’s highly publicized I’d Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur campaign. Her continued philanthropic efforts have raised funds for the Waterkeeper Alliance, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Bogart Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research. She is also a board member of the Entertainment Industries Council whose mission is to lead the entertainment industry in bringing its power and influence to bear on health and social issues.

As an ambassador for OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center, Melissa makes it a priority to raise awareness for dealing with pain and anguish in the wake of loss. In 2013, she received the Good Grief Award for her openness in discussing her father’s suicide and for addressing with honesty, dignity and respect, the subject of death and grieving. In addition, Melissa tirelessly fundraises in order to help provide the many services the Center offers.

Rivers currently lives with her son, Cooper, and two dogs in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis and surfing