Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Herrera.
Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I knew I wanted to be a journalist at a very young age! Beginning in elementary school, I was involved in the Newspaper Club and throughout middle and high school the Yearbook Club. Once it was time to go to college, I was determined to become a TV reporter. I actually got my first internship before my freshman year at Florida State at ABC WPLG here in Miami.
I ended up working at that station for the first 15 years of my career!
I got to tell not only the stories of our community but had the opportunity to travel the world. My most memorable assignment was being sent to Cuba in 2012 to cover Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the island. It was an experience that I still think about almost daily. I am most proud of the work I did while there.
Recently, I also became a published author. I wrote “Are Your Fake Boobs Making You Sick?” after battling my own health issues, and eventually making the decision to remove my breast implants. After decades of telling other people’s stories, it was time to tell my own.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In 2013, I was diagnosed with an extremely rare autoimmune disease, and my world was completely rocked! I was told I would never be able to go in the sun again. I was told there was a chance my muscles would stop functioning the way they are supposed to. And that was just a small portion of the diagnosis.
At the time, I had red, raised rashes all over several parts of my body, including my face. My joints were so sore all the time. I couldn’t do basic movements. I was living in pain daily.
To make a very long story short, I decided to do some research and to take matters into my own hands. I completely changed my diet, my lifestyle, I took some time off work, all to figure things out!
After a long process of elimination, I decided to remove my breast implants. I had the surgery in November of 2017 and almost immediately, I noticed a huge shift in my health.
Since then, it has become a bit of a mission for me to inform other women that their breast implants could be negatively affecting their health.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about NBC WTVJ – what should we know?
In 2018, I joined the team at WTVJ NBC 6. I currently host ‘6 in the Mix’ alongside my longtime friend Johanna Gomez. The show is a lifestyle/entertainment show. It is a lot of fun! It’s nice to be able to combine my experience as a journalist… with my real world everyday life as a wife and mom and bring real-life moments to our viewers.
In addition to what I do professionally, first and foremost, I am a wife and a mom!
My husband, Jason is a Miami Dade Fire Fighter. We also own a business, JW Landscape Designs.
We are non-stop, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our girls, Mackenzie and Mia are 11 and 9 years old.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I was a student athlete my entire childhood… and in that order… lol!
School always came first in our house. My mom was a teacher and later a principal, my dad a captain for Miami Dade Fire Rescue, so they didn’t mess around when it came to grades!
I also played travel soccer my entire childhood.
Having to do well in school teaches you responsibility as does playing a competitive travel sport. I learned early on how to work well with others. I had to take care of my equipment, had to make sure my uniforms were clean. If I messed up in school not only would I be in trouble at home but I would let my teammates down, so that didn’t happen!
Pricing:
- “Are Your Fake Boobs Making You Sick?” Available on amazon.com $14.99 paperback $9.99 ebook
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenherreratv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsjenherreratv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenherreratv/
Image Credit:
Kara Starzyk Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
