Lena Tillett Biography: Age, Height, Husband | WRAL-TV Anchor

WRAL Lena Tillett's Photo
WRAL Lena Tillett's Photo

Lena Tillett Biography: Weekday Evening Anchor, Host – WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

Lena Tillett is an accomplished journalist currently working as a weekday evening anchor and host at WRAL-TV/FOX 50 News in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Early Life and Education

  • Birthplace: Lena Tillett was born in Washington, D.C.
  • Education: She attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and English in 2009. She later pursued a Master of Arts degree in Journalism (News and Documentary) from New York University in 2013.

Career

  • Early Career: Lena began her career as a freelance reporter for News 12 Networks between July 2013 and December 2013. She also worked as a production assistant for ESPN Radio and ESPN New York.
  • WOWT-TV: From January 2014 to July 2016, Lena served as an anchor and reporter at WOWT-TV in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • WRAL-TV: Lena joined WRAL-TV in August 2016 as a fill-in morning anchor and reporter. She later became a co-anchor for the 9 a.m. newscast on FOX50 and the 4 p.m. newscast on WRAL-TV. She has been with WRAL-TV since December 2020, serving as a weekday evening anchor and host.

Notable Assignments

  • Documentary Thesis: Lena traveled to Ghana for her documentary thesis on an aquaponic farming business.
  • Tornado Coverage: She covered the resilience of residents rebuilding a small Nebraska town ravaged by two tornadoes.
  • President Obama’s Visit: Lena reported on President Obama’s surprise home visit in Omaha.
  • Inspiring Stories: One of her memorable stories was about a 6-year-old girl who was wounded by a stray bullet on her sixth birthday but was up and running again by the age of seven.

Personal Interests

  • Travel: Lena enjoys traveling and has been fortunate enough to visit Africa multiple times. Her favorite countries to visit are Tanzania and Burundi.
  • Community Service: She believes journalism is a service and aims to provide the community with the information it needs to lead better lives.

Age

Lena Tillett was born on February 19, 1989, which makes her 35 years old as of 2024. She is an Aquarius. Lena is of African American ethnicity and holds American nationality.

Parents and Siblings

Lena Tillett was born and raised in Washington, D.C. by her loving parents, Mr. Tillett and Ruth.

She has mentioned that her family is still close-knit and they often gather in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

However, details about her siblings have not been publicly shared, so it’s unclear if she has any brothers or sisters.

Husband

Lena Tillett is married to Christopher Washington. The couple tied the knot on January 1, 2022.

They have two sons: Masai Drew, who was born on November 13, 2022, and Zayden Kobi Robert, who was born on October 8, 2024.

Lena and Christopher are also proud dog parents to an adorable dog named Mowgli.

Height, Measurements

Lena Tillett stands at a height of 5 feet 5 inches (approximately 1.65 meters). She has black, long hair that matches her twinkling eyes. Her ideal body measurements are 34-24-36.

Career and Background

Lena Tillett has built an impressive career in journalism, joining WRAL-TV as a weekday evening anchor and host.

Additionally, she is recognized for her ability to report on complex issues with clarity and compassion.

Before her role at WRAL-TV, Lena gained experience working in various newsrooms, honing her skills as a reporter and anchor.

Her dedication to storytelling and community-focused reporting has earned her respect in the industry.

Early Career

  • News 12 Networks: Lena began her career as a freelance reporter for News 12 Networks between July 2013 and December 2013. She also worked as a production assistant for ESPN Radio and ESPN New York.
  • Village Health Works: In February 2013, Lena transitioned to a freelance video journalist role at Village Health Works, a community-driven health clinic in Kigutu, Burundi.

WOWT-TV

  • Anchor/Reporter: From January 2014 to July 2016, Lena served as an anchor and reporter at WOWT-TV in Omaha, Nebraska. During her time there, she covered a variety of news topics and gained valuable experience in broadcast journalism.

WRAL-TV

  • Joining WRAL: Lena joined WRAL-TV in August 2016 as a fill-in morning anchor and reporter. She later became a co-anchor for the 9 a.m. newscast on FOX50 and the 4 p.m. newscast on WRAL-TV.
  • Weekday Evening Anchor: Since December 2020, Lena has been serving as a weekday evening anchor and host at WRAL-TV. She co-anchors the 9 a.m. newscast on FOX50 and the 4 p.m. newscast on WRAL-TV.
  • Notable Assignments: Lena has covered several significant stories, including President Obama’s surprise home visit in Omaha, the resilience of residents rebuilding a small Nebraska town ravaged by tornadoes, and inspiring stories like that of a 6-year-old girl who was wounded by a stray bullet on her sixth birthday.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award: In August 2024, Lena was honored with the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award for her contributions to WRAL-TV.
  • RTDNAC/AP Awards: The WRAL News team, which includes Lena, won the top honor at the annual RTDNAC/AP Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, where WRAL was named Outstanding News Operation of the Year.
  • Edward R. Murrow Award: Lena received the Edward R. Murrow Award from RTDNA in May 2020 for her investigative reporting on local police practices.
  • Service to Community Award: She received the Service to Community Award from the National Association of Broadcasters in April 2017 for her work in a community forum and reporting on the “Black and Blue” documentary.

Lena Tillett works closely with several talented colleagues at WRAL-TV. Some of her close colleagues include:

  • Debra Morgan: Longtime anchor who has been with WRAL since 1993.
  • Gerald Owens: Anchors five evening newscasts and has been with WRAL since 2002.
  • Dan Haggerty: Anchors multiple evening newscasts and hosts the “In Depth” news segments.
  • Ashley Rowe: Joined WRAL in 2021 and covers a variety of news topics.
  • Leslie Moreno: A multimedia journalist and news anchor at WRAL-TV, Leslie has been recognized for her coverage of seniors and nursing homes throughout the pandemic. She joined WRAL in 2020 and has become a well-respected member of the team.
  • Kacy Hintz: A sports anchor and reporter, Kacy covered North Carolina Athletics and NC State for nearly four years at WRAL-TV. She recently announced her departure from WRAL-TV to pursue new opportunities.

Is Lena Tillett Married?

Yes, Lena Tillett is married to Christopher Washington. They have two sons: Masai Drew and Zayden Kobi Robert. They also have a dog named Mowgli.

How Old Is Lena Tillett?

Lena Tillett was born on February 19, 1989, which makes her 35 years old as of 2024.

Where Is Lena Tillett?

Lena Tillett is currently working as a weekday evening anchor and host at WRAL-TV/FOX 50 News in Raleigh, North Carolina.

She has been with WRAL-TV since December 2020, where she co-anchors the 9 a.m. newscast on FOX50 and the 4 p.m. newscast on WRAL-TV.

Lena Tillett is active on social media. She interacts with her fans quite often and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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