Maria Shriver is a writer, journalist, activist, philanthropist, and businesswoman – so it's no wonder that she has become an inspiration to so many.
In 2017, the 70-year-old launched The Sunday Paper with the aim to rise above the noise of a 24-hour news cycle, offering "honest storytelling," and the hope that readers would embrace a meaningful life, filled with hope and purpose, amid an increasingly divided time. In 2025, the publication added the award-winning newsletter Be Healthy: Radically Reframing Health, Wellness & Longevity, which won the Gracie Award for Best Substack/E-Newsletter/Blog in 2026.
© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal viaThe honor was presented by Natalie Morales, herself an award-winning journalist, who told HELLO! that Maria — who calls herself Natalie's "older sister" – has become "an incredible example of doing things her own way and creating her own platform, especially now in the digital media marketplace."
"She has owned that space, but she's also stayed true to who she is and really believes in what she puts out there in the world," says Natalie.
© NBCU Photo BankMaria, a member of the Kennedy family – her uncle was President John F. Kennedy – co-anchored CBS Morning News before she moved to NBC , where she was a contributing anchor on Dateline from 1992 until 2004.
She has received Peabody Awards for her television journalism, and in 2009, Maria earned two Emmys Awards for her work on The Alzheimer's Project, a four-part HBO documentary series.
© CBS via Getty ImagesNatalie also praised mother-of-four Maria for keeping a strong focus on spirituality across her messaging, which "touches people to the core".
"Being able to talk to a wider audience about all that is fair and right and true in this world… she's doing such good work and raising awareness about health and wellness issues," said Natalie.
© Getty Images for Hearst MagazineIn 1986, Maria married actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and in 2004 asked to be "relieved of [her] duties at NBC News," after becoming the First Lady of California when Arnold won the gubernatorial race.
The Kennedy scion and Arnold are parents to sons Patrick, 32, and Christopher, 28, and daughters Christina, 34, and Katherine, 36, but the pair split in 2011 after Maria discovered that the Terminator actor had welcomed a child, Joseph Baena, with their former nanny, Mildred Baena.
Their divorce was finalized in 2021.
© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal viaHowever, Maria remains close with Arnold, and daughter Katherine revealed in March that the extended family - Maria and Arnold, their children, and Katherine's husband, Chris Pratt - had enjoyed a ski trip.
Katherine has been married to Marvel actor Chris, whom Maria reportedly set Katherine up with, since 2019, and they have since welcomed three children: daughters Lyla, five, and Eloise, three, and son Ford, one.
