Vanessa Joy Lachey (née Minnillo; born November 9, 1980)[1] is an American television host, model and actress.

Lachey portrayed the lead role in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021–2024) for three seasons.

She lived in Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, Germany, and Japan and attended eleven schools in nine years.

By 1991, in the wake of Operation Desert Shield, they returned to their father's home, eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina, where Minnillo attended the Roman Catholic Bishop England High School and was a junior varsity cheerleader.

[citation needed] She was a host on MTV's The Morning After (2003) and Total Request Live (2003–2007)[12] and became a New York City correspondent for Entertainment Tonight in 2005.

After leaving MTV and Entertainment Tonight, Lachey was featured in print and web-based advertising for Bongo Jeans' Spring/Summer 2007 collection.

[19] Early in her career, Lachey had small roles in numerous television shows, including That's Life, City Girls, 30 Rock, The Bold and the Beautiful, Psych, Hawaii Five-O and Maybe It's Me.

She portrayed Amy in the parody film Disaster Movie (2008) alongside Matt Lanter, Kim Kardashian, and Carmen Electra.

She played Tracy in NBC's sitcom Truth Be Told (2015), about two diverse multiracial couples who are best friends, lovers and neighbors.

[25] Lachey stated that the show "made literally our dreams come true in terms of being able to work together, being able to spend time together, making our marriage stronger ultimately in the end.

[28][29] Lachey joined the cast in her first leading series role as Jane Tennant,[30] the first female Special Agent in charge of the NCIS: Pearl.

[11][36] Co-written with Dina Gachman, the book includes recipes, parenting tips, birthday rituals, date night ideas, and personal stories.