'It has been a gift': Maria Menounos shows off taut abs in a red bikini as she describes her brain tumor as 'the best thing that ever happened to me'

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Cancer survivor Maria Menounos flaunted her taut tummy while clad in a red string bikini and matching cropped tee on the January/February cover of Women's Health shot by Jeff Lipsky, which his newsstands next Tuesday.

Six months ago, the 39-year-old Daytime Emmy winner underwent a seven-hour operation to remove a benign, golf-ball-size brain tumor, which now has a 6-7 percent chance of returning.

'Would you believe me if I told you that the brain tumor is the best thing that ever happened to me?' the E! News anchor asked the mag.

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'The best thing that's ever happened to me': Maria Menounos posed in a red bikini on the cover of Women's Health as she described the positives to come out of her brain cancer diagnoses

'It's freed me from all of that anxiety of having to be perfect. You can't control everything; leave it to God and just say, "Okay, this is my journey." This whole thing has been such a gift. This happened for a reason.'

Maria now feels 'much more present in life' after ditching her smartphone for a low-tech Light Phone that only holds 10 numbers: 'No texting, no emailing, no nothing.'

However, thus far, there has been no scientific study linking an increased risk of brain tumors to cell phones' radiofrequency (RF) waves - according to the American Cancer Society.

While Menounos was convalescing in bed she wondered: '"Why do I work 20 hours a day? To have more? To pay more? To owe more? What is life about? What really matters? Going the extra mile and depleting my health for some boss who's never going to give a s***?" Not worth it!' 

'It was a gift': Six months ago, the 39-year-old Daytime Emmy winner underwent a seven-hour operation to remove a benign, golf-ball-size brain tumor

The E! News anchor told the mag: 'It's freed me from all of that anxiety of having to be perfect. You can't control everything; leave it to God and just say, "Okay, this is my journey." This whole thing has been such a gift. This happened for a reason'

'No texting, no emailing, no nothing': Maria now feels 'much more present in life' after ditching her smartphone for a low-tech Light Phone that only holds 10 numbers

Hitting newsstands next Tuesday! Cancer survivor Maria Menounos posed up a storm on the January/February cover of Women's Health

Whenever the AfterBuzzTV CEO doesn't feel well, she 'feels' the long scar behind her right ear to remind herself to slow down.

Before the brain tumor, the Miss Massachusetts Teen 1996 was 'super type A' but she got overly stressed being 'everything to everyone, but nothing to myself.'

'There was no self-compassion, no self-love. I didn't think I deserved it,' the pretty presenter explained. 'Do you know how many times I postponed the MRI that found my tumor? At least three times!'

Maria was too concerned about her Greek immigrant mother Litsa's stage IV brain cancer battle to notice she was suffering from similar symptoms.

While Menounos was convalescing in bed she wondered: '"Why do I work 20 hours a day? To have more? To pay more? To owe more? What is life about? What really matters? Going the extra mile and depleting my health for some boss who's never going to give a s***?"'

Hospital snap: Whenever the AfterBuzzTV CEO doesn't feel well, she 'feels' the long scar behind her right ear to remind herself to slow down

'My mom's tumor was growing and I thought, "I don't have time to deal with my own issue, whatever it is,"' Menounos said of her mother, now in stable condition..

'We're so empathetic with everyone except ourselves. The only time I cried was when I told people [like pals Vin Diesel, Tony Robbins, and Wilmer Valderrama].'

It's unclear when the NY Times bestselling author and her Emerson College sweetheart fiancé, Tomorrow Show host Keven Undergaro, plan to schedule their Star Trek-themed nuptials. 

'I postponed the MRI that found my tumor three times': Maria was too concerned about her Greek immigrant mother Litsa's stage IV brain cancer battle to notice she was suffering from similar symptoms 

'He really doesn't want me to stress': It's unclear when the NY Times bestselling author and her fiancé, Tomorrow Show host Keven Undergaro, are planning their Star Trek-themed nuptials

'Keven's been my savior. He never left my side in the hospital,' the Miss America Pageant judge gushed. 

'I was crying, "I just want to get married! I want to have kids!" I've been pushing the wedding thing, but he said, "Listen, I'm working on something." For a minute, the type A came right back: "You can't surprise me with a wedding! I need a dress!" But he said, "You're on a need-to-know basis." I think he really doesn't want me to stress.'

On Monday, the Miss America Pageant judge revealed she retired from wrestling while retweeting about the Women of WWE's Royal Rumble match airing January 28. 

'Unless someone wants to see the inside of my head': On Monday, the Miss America Pageant judge revealed she retired from wrestling while retweeting about the Women of WWE's Royal Rumble match airing January 28

'Yes! Yes! Yes! I wanna rumble! Hahahah ok I can't really unless someone wants to see the inside of my head,' Maria - who boasts 2.4M followers - wrote.

'But I'm so excited to see this! Lets hear it for the ladies!'

Up next, the SiriusXM stunner 'is so excited' to co-host Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square in Manhattan.

'Hope you join us!' Up next, the SiriusXM stunner 'is so excited' to co-host Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square in Manhattan