Jovana Lara is a Cuban-American Emmy Award-winning television journalist, news anchor, and occasional actress. She is best recognised as the longtime weekday anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, where she has covered breaking news, community stories, and international events for more than two decades. Her career, personal life, and philanthropic work continue to attract attention from viewers across Southern California.
Jovana Lara Bio
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Jovana Lara |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 11 January 1966 |
| Age | 60 years old (as of July 2026) |
| Place of birth | Cuba |
| Current residence | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic (Cuban-American) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | Around 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Body measurements | Estimated 34-26-35 inches |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Dr. Randy Brooks |
| Children | Two (Alex Brooks and Hunter Brooks) |
| High school | Holy Family High School, Glendale |
| Alma mater | Loyola Marymount University |
| Profession | News anchor, reporter, actress |
| Net worth | Estimated $1 million – $2.8 million |
| @abc7jovana | |
| abc7jovana |
Who is Jovana Lara?
Jovana Lara is an American broadcast journalist whose warm on-screen presence has become a familiar sight for viewers in Southern California. She anchors the 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekday newscasts on ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles. Her reporting focuses on solutions to community problems, breaking news, and human-interest stories.
Born in Cuba and raised in Glendale, California, she brings a bicultural perspective to her reporting. She also enjoys light acting work, often playing news anchors in film and television productions.
How old is Jovana Lara? Age and birthday
Jovana Lara is 60 years old as of July 2026. She was born on 11 January 1966 in Cuba. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn, a trait often associated with discipline, ambition, and hard work — qualities she has demonstrated across her broadcasting career. She celebrates her birthday every year on 11 January.
Jovana Lara’s height, weight, and body measurements
Jovana Lara stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm) and weighs around 130 lbs (59 kg). Her estimated body measurements are approximately 34-26-35 inches. She has dark brown hair and warm brown eyes, complementing her fair complexion. She keeps fit through indoor cycling, Pilates, yoga, and hiking, activities she often shares with her followers on social platforms.
Early life and education
Her family emigrated from Cuba when she was a small child, settling in Glendale, California. She began her schooling at Holy Family Grade School in Glendale in third grade and later attended Holly Family High School, graduating in 1984.
She then enrolled at Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1988. Although she was drawn to broadcasting from an early age — even famously telling her third-grade teacher she would one day appear on television — she originally pursued a career in business before switching paths.
Jovana Lara’s career journey
Beginnings in Palm Springs and Orange County
Her broadcasting career began at KESQ in Palm Springs, where she worked weekends as a reporter. After a year, she was promoted to weekend anchor. Wanting to sharpen her skills, she took a second reporting job at the Orange County News Channel and balanced both roles at once.
San Diego breakthrough at KNSD
She joined KNSD in San Diego as a reporter. In her very first year there, she earned an Emmy Award for a moving story about a small village near Tijuana that had been washed away in the 1997 El Niño mudslides. Two additional stories she reported that year received Emmy nominations, and the San Diego Press Club also recognised her work.
Two decades and counting at ABC7 Eyewitness News
She joined ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles in December 2000, and in 2025 marked 25 years with the station. Over the years, she has covered fires, crimes, natural disasters, and in-depth features. She has reported from Mexico and Guatemala on earthquakes, immigration, the Pope’s visit, and quality-of-life issues affecting both Los Angeles and Mexico City.
As co-host of the community affairs program Vista L.A., she captured four Emmy Awards, bringing her total to five Emmys throughout her career.
Acting appearances
She has also stepped in front of scripted cameras. She played a KZYO Newscaster in two episodes of the ABC series The Rookie (2021), a Newscaster in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022), and a News Anchor in two episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). She also portrayed a 1980s news anchor in the science fiction film Tron: Ares (2025).
What is Jovana Lara’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Jovana Lara’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $2.8 million. She earns an estimated annual salary of around $94,500 from her role as a weekday anchor at ABC7 in Los Angeles. She built her fortune through her long-running television anchoring contract, occasional acting cameos, brand appearances, and community-facing engagements.
Income sources at a glance
Her main income streams include her ABC7 anchoring salary, small screen acting appearances, public speaking engagements, and her digital presence across Instagram and Facebook. Her steady on-air role remains the largest single contributor to her earnings.
Is Jovana Lara married? Husband and family life
Jovana Lara is married to Dr. Randy Brooks, an oral surgeon based in Southern California. The couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony and have kept most of their personal life away from cameras. She often shares brief birthday tributes to her husband on social media, referring to him affectionately as her “handsome hubby.”
Children
The couple are proud parents to two children — a daughter named Alex Brooks and a son named Hunter Brooks. She frequently posts about her family, including a recent celebration highlighting a milestone for her daughter in 2026.
Dating history
She has kept any pre-marriage relationships private, and there is no publicly documented dating history before her marriage to Dr. Randy Brooks. She remains happily married and shows no signs of separation.
Jovana Lara on social media
As of July 2026, she is active on Instagram as @abc7jovana, where she shares family updates, workout routines, and behind-the-scenes newsroom moments. She also maintains a strong following on Facebook, often posting community stories and career milestones, including her recent 25-year anniversary at KABC.
Fast facts about Jovana Lara
- She was born in Cuba and moved to the United States as a young child.
- She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a business degree in 1988.
- She has won a total of five Emmy Awards during her broadcasting career.
- She is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to report bilingually.
- She marked 25 years with ABC7 KABC in Los Angeles in December 2025.
- She is an indoor cycling enthusiast and enjoys Pilates, yoga, and hiking.
- She has played news anchors in Tron: Ares, She-Hulk, and The Rookie.
- Her husband, Dr. Randy Brooks, works as an oral surgeon.
- She has two children, Alex Brooks and Hunter Brooks.
- She has reported from Mexico and Guatemala on major world events.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jovana Lara in 2026?
She is 60 years old, having been born on 11 January 1966. She celebrates her birthday every year on that date.
Who is Jovana Lara’s husband?
She is married to Dr. Randy Brooks, an oral surgeon in Southern California. The couple wed in a private ceremony and rarely appear in public together.
How many children does Jovana Lara have?
She has two children with her husband, a daughter named Alex Brooks and a son named Hunter Brooks. Both appear occasionally on her social media pages.
How tall is Jovana Lara?
She stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm) and weighs around 130 lbs (59 kg). She maintains her figure through cycling, Pilates, yoga, and hiking.
What is Jovana Lara’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated between $1 million and $2.8 million as of 2026. Most of it comes from her long-running anchor role at ABC7 Eyewitness News.
How many Emmy Awards has Jovana Lara won?
She has won five Emmy Awards in total — one at KNSD in San Diego and four at ABC7 for her co-hosting work on Vista L.A.
Where did Jovana Lara go to college?
She attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Wrapping up
Jovana Lara’s story is one of quiet consistency, cultural pride, and journalistic excellence. From a small Cuban child growing up in Glendale to a five-time Emmy Award-winning anchor at ABC7 Eyewitness News, she has become one of Los Angeles’s most trusted news voices. Alongside her husband, Dr. Randy Brooks, and their two children, she continues to balance a demanding on-air career with a grounded family life in Southern California.
References
- ABC7 Los Angeles. “Jovana Lara – Los Angeles”.
- Grokipedia. “Jovana Lara”.
- Biography Points. “Jovana Lara’s Husband, Age & Personal Life”.
- Famous Intel. “Jovana Lara Biography, Husband, Age, Family, Salary and Net Worth”.
- IMDb. “Jovana Lara”.
- LinkedIn. “Jovana Lara – News Anchor at ABC7 Eyewitness News”.
- Instagram. “@abc7jovana”.
- She Built It Podcast. “Finding Career Fulfillment with Jovana Lara”.
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