Leyna Nguyen

Nguyen was born in Dong Ha, Quang Tri of South Vietnam. She was originally named Lina after a famous cosmetics at the time that her mother really liked. She grew up there until five and then moved to Burnsville, Minnesota with the family. Because people misthought her name was Leyna, the name Leyna was adopted instead. She graduated from Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota in 1988. Another notable graduate from the 1988 Senior class is actor and thespian Erik Jensen.

Leyna earned a degree in Mass Communications from Webster University in St. Louis and has anchored at KCAL-TV in Los Angeles since December 1997. Nguyen anchors on KCAL 9 weeknights at 4pm and 9pm and previously worked for KCRA in Sacramento, California and WRDW-TV in Augusta, Georgia. Leyna was once a substitute teacher. She has also co-hosted Vietnamese entertainment programs, like for Asia Entertainment, and appeared in several movies and television shows, like in the movie "Garfield" (2004).

In 2008, Leyna Nguyen earned an Emmy Award for hosting Heal The Bay, and has been nominated for an Emmy several times for her news stories on Vietnam, Heart Baby, and for best Feature Reporter. Leyna Nguyen hosts the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon every year, as well as the Special Olympics Summer Games.

Leyna Nguyen has made numerous appearances on television as a newsreader including Pushing Daisies, Boston Legal, Two and a Half Men, Las Vegas, Without a Trace and many others.

In 1987, Leyna was crowned "Miss Asia," in 1996, she was named "YWCA Woman of the year," and in 2000, she was designated one of the country's "25 Most Influential Vietnamese-Americans in 25 years."

Leyna also has a non-profit foundation called Love Across The Ocean, which benefits underprivileged school children in Vietnam. In 2011, she become 68th District of California Woman of the Year Honoree.

Official Site: http://leynanguyen.bravehost.com/main.html