Early Life & Education

Ana Maria Belaval was born in the summer of 1974 and spent her childhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a home filled with storytellers, at a very young age, she developed a great interest in journalism. At 14 years old, Ana landed her first job at WAPA in Puerto Rico, which in turn solidified her affinity for broadcast media. Later, she left the island to go to the U.S. mainland and enrolled at American University in Washington, D.C., where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree, also at that time becoming fluent in English and Spanish.

Journalism Career & Achievements

Ana began her career at Univision in Chicago, which at the time was also the stage for her to put on the general assignment reporter and weekend anchor roles. Later, she grew to be a network correspondent in New York and also took up an occasional fill-in host for Despierta América. In 2005, Ana joined WGN-TV in Chicago, where she made history as one of the first Spanish-speaking journalists to transition into the mainstream English language broadcast in the city.

At WGN, which is where she spent the bulk of her time, Ana rose to be that face behind the fun, light-hearted feature reports that we had in the “Around Town” segments on the WGN Morning News, which saw her introduce to our audience the hidden gems, local personalities, and family-friendly events across the city. Also over the years, which saw Ana in many roles at the station, she did a stint as a substitute anchor for WGN’s Morning and Midday news, and also put in air time on WGN Radio 720.

Her journalistic talent has achieved multiple Emmys for her, as many as four wins and six nominations. She has been recognised for a series which included Living Green, One Tank Trips, the community affairs program Adelante Chicago, and in-depth reportage of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Also, she was a runner-up for the Peter Lisagor Award for a personal investigative special.

Comedy, Blogging & Public Presence

In addition to her work in journalism, Ana has built a second career as a stand-up comic in Chicago. Her humour is dry, impromptu and very much based in bicultural identity, which has made her a mainstay at local venues and in community events. Also, she co-founded Ay Mama!, a community blog and podcast which reports on motherhood, culture and city life.

Personal Life & Family

Daughter Amelia (b. 2008 2009, at 16 17 years of age in early 2025) and son Alexander (b. 2013 2014, which puts him at 10- 11 years of age in 2025). As for her parents and brother, they are in Puerto Rico, and she reports that she keeps in touch with them often via Skype, which in turn helps her to maintain her connection to her roots.

Age, Birthday & Heritage

At the start of 2025, Ana is 50 years old (turns 51 on August 23, 2025). She is of Puerto Rican heritage, which she puts forward with pride into the main stage of media, which she uses to bridge bilingual audiences in the U.S., where her heritage is more than background material; she is a champion for representation and cultural understanding, which plays out every morning on air.

Salary & Net Worth

Neither Ana’s nor WGN’s info on her salary or net worth has been made public. That said, with over 20 years in broadcast journalism, multiple Emmy wins and also a go at stand-up comedy and writing, she does which appears to do very well, she may be doing very well for herself. While we don’t have exact numbers that are out there, from what I can tell, she is well paid as a long-standing network correspondent and local celebrity.

Legacy & Impact

Ana Belaval is a dynamic, fearless and pioneering figure in local TV. What sets her apart is her skill at combining in-depth reporting with community-oriented soft stories, which also include bold outdoor segments like high-wire walks, skateboarding, or sledging, which she does. Also of note is that she uses her position in mainstream media as a Latina to empower, which in turn challenges stereotypes and breaks down cultural barriers.

At large, Ana Belaval is from Puerto Rico, a bilingual Emmy-winning journalist in Chicago, who brings to life daily on WGN Morning News, also known for her humour and her work, which is very much about representation. At present, at 50, she is still a source of inspiration to audiences for her curious nature, humour, and passion for storytelling.