Michelle Valles is an award-winning veteran broadcast journalist now working as a news anchor and reporter in Los Angeles with KNBC. Previously she was an evening news anchor and reporter with the NBC and CBS affiliates in the Austin and El Paso markets. Her award winning reporting at KXAN (NBC affiliate) included breaking news coverage on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the breaking news death and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, and exclusive reports with Willie Nelson tackling marijuana usage and decriminalization in America.
Her international reporting with KTSM (NBC affiliate) in El Paso and Juarez, included exclusive access to a Mexican federal prison, notorious Juarez murder cases, Mexican orphanage conditions, and breaking news reports on US/Mexico border protests, numerous drug busts, Ft. Bliss war deployments and 9/11.
In 2009 she helped launch and create Austin’s first-ever award winning lifestyle show as the co-host/writer of Austin Live on KEYE TV(CBS affiliate). The show was formulated as a fast-paced, hour-long demonstrative show capturing interviews with high profiled actors, musicians, authors and other notable entertainers. The successful creation resulted as a flagship show for more than 20 Nex-star Broadcasting stations.
Before joining the KNBC team in 2012, Michelle took a short respite from the Austin airwaves to pursue several TV, movie, theatre, and writing projects. Her first national TV debut was in May 2011 on HBO Latino for the award winning series, “Habla Texas” in which she shares the language controversy that unexpectedly erupted when she signed off with “hasta manana” (spanish for “until tomorrow”) at the end of her newscasts. This summer Michelle also made her musical debut joining the cast of “A Ride With Bob” featuring 9 time Grammy award winning artist, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel which has performed across the country including the Kennedy Center performing.
She was also cast in the popular ABC Family teenage drama“The Lying Game” and the upcoming Christmas movie and feature film “When Angels Sing” alongside Harry Connick Jr., Connie Britton, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.
Also popular with Austin readers are her sassy columns in Austin Man magazine in which Michelle gives a “woman’s perspective” on men related topics.
Michelle co-hosted the MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon from 1999-2008 and is deeply dedicated to community service with SIMS, Center for Child Protection, Emancipet, Las Comadres, Latinitas and many others. In July 2010 Austin Woman magazine featured her on the cover and in 2009 she was voted fan favorite in Dancing with the Stars Austin.
Michelle is a former board member of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, New Milestones Foundation, Reel Women, and Mexi-Carte Museum . She is also a proud member of National Association of Hispanic Journalists. And in 2013 was selected to join the elite USC Annenberg/School of Communication and Journalism Health Fellowship to explore
