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Samantha Harris will host the Seventh Annual Jewelry Information Center GEM Awards on Jan 9, 2009. New York—Dancing with the Stars co-host Samantha Harriswill play master of ceremonies at the Jewelry Information Center’s (JIC) 2009 GEM Awards, a gala event that takes place each year in New York City.

The event will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, at Cipriani 42nd Street.

A renowned entertainment-news journalist, in addition to her work on ABC’s hit variety show, Harris is a correspondent for E! Networks’ E! News. She co-hosts the network’s live awards-show coverage and writes, reports and produces for E! News.

“Samantha Harris is recognized for her elegance, poise and, of course, for heightening our industry’s awareness to consumers by wearing beautiful fine jewelry on Dancing with the Stars,” JIC Board Chairman David Bouffard said in a media release. “We are thrilled to have Samantha as our new host. She will bring a fresh vitality to the GEM Awards gala, making the evening even more magical.”

JIC launched the GEM Awards in 2003 to honor leaders in the industry and media who have helped to promote the wearing of fine jewelry and watches to the consumer.

For more information, visit’s the JIC’s Web site, JIC.org.