As an Emmy- and Genesis Award-winning journalist, Lu Parker, co-anchors the KTLA 5 News at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. She is also a keynote speaker, former Miss USA, entrepreneur, author and animal rights advocate.
Lu has won six Emmys for her work in the television industry. She has also been honored with two Genesis Awards from the Humane Society United States for her outstanding reporting and creative portrayals of animal protection issues, including investigations into puppy mills, elephant abuse, and beagle lab testing.
During her career, Lu has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Bradley Cooper, Aretha Franklin, Matt Damon, Barbra Streisand and Kanye West. In addition to her KTLA anchoring and reporting, Lu has appeared on scripted television shows such as ABC’s “Scandal,” TNT’s “Major Crimes,” and NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.”
Prior to her career in broadcasting, Lu was a ninth-grade English literature teacher. While teaching, in 1994, she captured both the Miss South Carolina USA and Miss USA titles. In addition, as Miss USA, she placed fourth in the Miss Universe Pageant. After winning the Miss USA title, Lu moved to Los Angeles. For a year, she traveled the world making hundreds of appearances. You can read more about her pageant experiences and find valuable competition tips in her book titled “Catching the Crown: the Source for Pageant Competition,” which is available at Amazon.com.
Lu is an avid traveler and has visited nearly 20 countries, where she has had the opportunity to meet with dignitaries such as Prince William and Kate Middleton and presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. While on a trip to South Africa, Lu also had the opportunity to discuss human and animal rights during visits with Nelson Mandela and animal advocate Jane Goodall.
Lu obtained an English degree from the College of Charleston, where she was named alumnus of the year. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in education from The Citadel. Lu has been presented with the Palmetto Award, the highest civilian honor given in the state of South Carolina and has been recognized in the South Carolina Congressional Record twice as an outstanding South Carolinian.
In 2018, Lu founded the lifestyle media brand Be Kind & Co. The company is committed to creating experiences, story-driven content, and digital products that bring people together for the bigger purpose of spreading kindness. In 2021, the company launched a line of apparel that Lu describes as “merchandise with a message.”
In her free time, Lu is an advocate for homeless animals. In 2010, she created Lu Parker Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless animals and at-risk teenagers through community projects and education.
Lu is an avid hiker and writer. She has been a vegetarian for over 30 years and became vegan in 2014. Lu lives in Los Angeles with her 98-pound rescue dog Moose.
More information at www.luparker.com and www.bekindandco.com.
