Lu Parker Biography and Wikipedia
Lu Parker is a well-known American journalist, television personality, and former beauty queen who has made a name for herself in Los Angeles, particularly through her work at KTLA 5, where she won an Emmy Award.
During her time at KTLA, Parker served as both an anchor and a reporter, diving into major breaking news stories, community happenings, and other important events throughout Southern California. She also holds the title of Miss USA, which she won in 1994.
Over the course of her journalism career, Parker has received multiple Emmy Awards, solidifying her reputation in the world of television news. Her broadcasting journey has been largely defined by her long-standing role at KTLA 5.
Lu Parker Education
Lu joined Charleston College where she became a sister of Alpha Delta Pi and received a bachelor of arts degree in English. She was later named Alumnus of the Year. Later she joined The Citadel and earned a master of arts degree in Education.
Lu Parker’s Age and Birthday
How old is Lu? Parker is 58 years old as of 2026. She was born on April 16, 1968, in Anderson, South Carolina, in the United States of America. Lu celebrates her birthday on 16th April every year. Her birth sign is Aries. RELATED: Mary Beth McDade
Lu Parker Nationality and Ethnicity
Lu holds American nationality and citizenship by birth. She was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, in the United States of America. Lu belongs to the white heritage/ethnicity/ancestry.
Lu Parker Height | Measurements
How tall is Lu? Parker stands at an average height of 5 feet 9 inches (Approx. 1.83 m). She has brown hair and hazel eyes. However, she has not disclosed her other body measurements in the public domain.
Lu Parker Family | Parents | Siblings
Lu was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, in the United States to caring and loving parents. Nevertheless, she likes to keep matters regarding her life and family away from the public domain. Therefore, she has not shared her parent’s and siblings’ identities in public places. Thus, our team is still investigating this segment and we will update this as soon as we get clear information. RELATED: Taissa Farmiga
Lu Parker Husband | Children | Married | Wedding
Is Lu married? Parker was in a relationship with her partner Antonio Villaraigosa, a mayor of Los Angeles. The pair began dating in March 2009. However, KTLA was reportedly unaware of this fact until May 2009. Parker covered several stories about Antonio before publicly disclosing her relationship with him. The pair separated in May 2012. Lu likes spending time with her dog Moose.
Lu Parker Salary
Parker working as a journalist, author, motivational speaker, animal rights advocate and Miss USA 1994 winner at KTLA 5 News earns an estimated annual salary ranging from $80,000- $200,000.
Lu Parker’s Net Worth
Parker is an American reporter who works as a journalist, author, motivational speaker, and animal rights advocate for KTLA News with an estimated net worth ranging from $3 million to $6 million. RELATED: Dixie D’Amelio
Lu Parker KTLA 5 News
Lu began her reporting career at WCSC television in Charleston, South Carolina, where she worked as a fill-in anchor and education reporter. After her break from pageantry, she got back to television, working as a weekend reporter and anchor at KABB television. Parker later became the primary reporter in 2000. She joined KTLA News in January 2005, working along with Franck Buckley, co-reporting KTLA Prime News on weekends.
She started co-reporting the weekday KTLA Morning News at 5 and 6 am alongside Cher Calvin in 2007. So far Lu has won six Emmy awards because of her work in the journalism field. She has also been honored with two Genesis Grants from the Humane Society United States due to her outstanding creative portrayal and reporting of animal protection issues such as investigations into puppy mills, beagle lab testing, and elephant abuse.
Glen Walker and Lu Parker
Glen Walker and Lu Parker were both familiar faces at KTLA 5, and their names became intertwined during the station’s 2026 staffing changes, as they were both prominent journalists who left the station.
Walker had been with KTLA before he also departed during the 2026 layoffs, moving on to a new role at FOX 11 Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Parker’s exit marked the conclusion of her long tenure at KTLA.
Their departures brought about a notable shift in KTLA’s on-air lineup, especially since both journalists had become well-recognized figures among viewers in Los Angeles.
Lu Parker Laid Off Nexstar
In 2026, Lu Parker was among the KTLA staff members impacted by layoffs at Nexstar Media Group. This marked a significant shift in her career, as her departure was part of a larger wave of staffing changes at the Los Angeles station.
Parker’s exit signified the end of her extensive relationship with KTLA 5. While the layoffs and budget cuts were making headlines, it’s important for viewers to understand the difference between a corporate layoff and a voluntary exit. Parker’s departure was linked to the layoffs in 2026.
Lu Parker Miss USA 1994
After winning Miss Carolina USA, Parker competed at Miss USA in 1994. Additionally, she came first into the semi-finals having won all three preliminary competitions. She later cut the final three, eventually emerging as the third South Carolina to be crowned Miss USA. Moreover, she was one of the judges at the Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant at The Venetian Theatre based in Las Vegas. She has also authored a book on pageantry known as Catching the Crown: The Source for Pageant Competition.
Lu Parker KTLA 5
Lu Parker’s journey at KTLA 5 was quite the ride, making her one of the station’s most recognizable faces as an anchor and reporter. Over the years, she tackled a diverse range of stories, shining a light on events in Los Angeles and across Southern California.
But Lu’s story doesn’t just start with news. Before she became a well-known journalist, she was crowned Miss USA in 1994, which paved the way for her transition into broadcasting. Her unique blend of on-screen experience and public speaking prowess really set her apart as a standout news personality.
When she bid farewell to KTLA in 2026, it marked the close of a significant chapter in her broadcasting journey. As of now, there hasn’t been any public announcement about what her next professional adventure will be.
Lu Parker Arrested
In November 2016, Parker was arrested after a passenger accused her of taking headphones during a security screening at Los Angeles International Airport. The incident occurred at about 7 am morning. However, Lu had picked up the earphones intending to return them to the owner but she was unable to find her/him. However, the matter was solved and Lu was later released.
