Lauren Wendy Sánchez (born December 19, 1969) is an American journalist. She is a licensed pilot and founder of Black Ops Aviation. In 2023, she became engaged to

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...

and

Blue Origin Blue Origin Enterprises, L.P. is an American space technology company headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company operates the suborbital New Shepard rocket and the heavy-lift New Glenn rocket. In addition to producing engines for its own ...

founder

Jeff Bezos Jeffrey Preston Bezos ( ;; and Robinson (2010), p. 7. ; born January 12, 1964) is an American businessman best known as the founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO of Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce and clou ...

. Sánchez has been a guest host on ''The View'', co-host on

KTTV KTTV (channel 11) is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast of the United States, West Coast flagship (broadcasting), flagship station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network. It is owned a ...

Fox 11's '' Good Day L.A.'' and anchor on the ''Fox 11 News at Ten'', and anchor and special correspondent on ''

Extra Extra, Xtra, or The Extra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * The Extra (1962 film), ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * The Extra (2005 film), ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * Extra (newspaper), ...

.'' She has also been a regular contributor on shows including ''

Larry King Live ''Larry King Live'' is an American television talk show broadcast by CNN from June 3, 1985 to December 16, 2010. Hosted by Larry King, it was the network's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly. Ma ...

'', '' The Joy Behar Show'' and ''

Showbiz Tonight ''Showbiz Tonight'' is a defunct American entertainment news program that aired from February 20, 2005, until February 6, 2014, on HLN. ''Showbiz Tonight'' was hosted by A. J. Hammer at CNN New York at the time of its cancellation. The show ...

''. In 2024, Sánchez released her debut children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller. On February 27, 2025, it was announced that Sánchez would be one of the passengers for

's eleventh flight to space under the

New Shepard New Shepard is a Reusable launch vehicle, fully reusable Sub-orbital spaceflight, sub-orbital launch vehicle developed for space tourism by Blue Origin. The vehicle is named after Alan Shepard, who became the List of space travelers by nationali ...

program, along with

Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists in hist ...

, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Kerianne Flynn and fellow journalist

Gayle King Gayle King (born December 28, 1954) is an American television personality, author and broadcast journalist for CBS News, co-hosting its flagship morning program, ''CBS Mornings'', and before that its predecessor '' CBS This Morning''. She is ...

Blue Origin NS-31 Blue Origin NS-31 was a sub-orbital spaceflight operated by Blue Origin as part of ''New Shepard'', the company's space tourism program. The flight took place on April 14, 2025, and lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds. The flight carried all female ...

sub-orbital A sub-orbital spaceflight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches outer space, but its trajectory intersects the surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched. Hence, it will not complete one orbital revolution, will no ...

mission took place on April 14, 2025, making Sánchez and King the first female journalists to fly to space.

Early life and education

Lauren Wendy Sánchez was born on December 19, 1969, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Ray Sánchez, an aviation businessman, and Eleanor Sánchez, a former Los Angeles assistant deputy mayor. Lauren describes herself as "third-generation Mexican-American". Lauren attended Del Norte High School, participating in cheerleading and student assembly, and working at The Beach water park. After graduating high school in 1987, Sánchez studied acting and speech at the

University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...

. She later moved to California and attended

El Camino College El Camino College (Elco or ECC) is a public community college in Los Angeles County, California. Most of it is in Alondra Park,dyslexia Dyslexia (), previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, wri ...

after a professor identified her learning differences. This diagnosis has led her to support the

International Dyslexia Association The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a non-profit education and advocacy organization devoted to issues surrounding dyslexia. Its headquarters are located in Pikesville, Maryland, United States. The International Dyslexia Association ...

and advocate for more inclusive educational systems. She subsequently studied communications at the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

. In 1990, she won the international Models World Magazine Cover Girl Competition.

Career

Sánchez began her career as a desk assistant at

KCOP-TV KCOP-TV (channel 13), branded Fox 11 Plus, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship station of MyNetworkTV. It is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations alongside Fox outlet K ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. She also held positions as an anchor and reporter at KTVK-TV in Phoenix before joining the syndicated entertainment show ''

'' as a reporter. From there, Sánchez moved to

Fox Sports Net Fox Sports Networks (FSN), formerly known as Fox Sports Net, was the collective name for a group of regional sports channels in the United States. Formed in 1996 by News Corporation, the networks were acquired by the Walt Disney Company on Mar ...

, where she earned an Emmy nomination as anchor and correspondent for the sports magazine ''Going Deep'', served as an anchor for '' Fox Sports News Primetime'' and later was an entertainment reporter for FSN's '' Best Damn Sports Show Period''. In 1999, Sánchez returned to KCOP-TV to anchor ''UPN News 13'', where her team won an Emmy Award. In 1999. Sánchez was co-host on KTTV Fox 11's Good Day LA and anchor on the Fox 11 News at Ten. She was the runner-up in the nationwide hosting competition during season 2 of ''The View'' in February 2000. The position was ultimately given to

Lisa Ling Lisa J. Ling (born August 30, 1973) is an American journalist and television personality. She is a news contributor for CBS News. Previously, she was the host for ''This Is Life with Lisa Ling '' on CNN, a reporter on Channel One News, a co-host ...

. In 2005, Sánchez became the original host of FOX's popular dancing competition ''

So You Think You Can Dance ''So You Think You Can Dance'' is a franchise of reality television shows in which contestants compete in dance. The first series of the franchise, created by '' Idols'' producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, premiered in July 2005 and has ...

''. Sánchez left the show after one season to have her second child. In 2009, Sánchez returned to ''Extra'' as weekend anchor and special correspondent. Sánchez continues to occasionally work on '' Good Day LA'', ''

'' and other TV shows. Sánchez was featured in ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue in 2010 and ''

Us Weekly ''Us Weekly'' is an American weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City. ''Us Weekly'' was founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, which sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986, and sold to Ameri ...

s "Hot Bodies" issue. In 2016, after learning to fly at age 40 and getting her pilot's license, she founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned aerial film and production company. Sánchez focuses on film and television projects which allow her to use her skills as a licensed pilot. In 2024, she received the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award at the Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards for her expertise as a helicopter pilot and aviation businesswoman. In 2024, Sanchez released her first children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, a story about a fly named Flynn who doesn't do well in school but is curious about life and accidentally gets stuck in the cockpit of a rocket that heads into space. The story is inspired by Sanchez' life and her struggles with dyslexia. It debuted on the

New York Times Bestseller list ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. John Bear, ''The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times ...

on September 29, 2024. In February 2025, Sánchez was announced as a passenger for the first all-female flight aboard the

rocket, dubbed NS-31. The mission flew on April 14, 2025.

Philanthropy

Sánchez is the vice-chairperson of

Bezos Earth Fund Jeffrey Preston Bezos ( ;; and Robinson (2010), p. 7. ; born January 12, 1964) is an American businessman best known as the founder, executive chairman, and former president and Chief executive officer, CEO of Amazon (company), Amazon, ...

, and helped promote their Greening America's Cities initiative, a seven-year $400 million commitment to help create and enhance greenspaces in underserved communities. In March 2024, she pledged to donate $60 million to create centers that would focus on biomanufacturing and climate change. In October 2024, Sánchez and Bezos pledged $60 million to the

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is an American foundation that was chartered by the United States Congress in 1984 to increase the resources available for the conservation of the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. A ...

to enable the restoration and improved management of of land across more than a dozen states. Sanchez was also honored by American nonprofit environmental organization

Conservation International Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Crystal City, Virginia, in Arlington County, Virginia. CI's work focuses on science, policy and partnership with businesses, governments and co ...

with its Global Visionary Award for her commitment to supporting pressing nature issues. Sánchez is part of the Bezos

Courage and Civility Award The Courage and Civility Award is an annual award distributed by Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez since 2021. The award is accompanied by $100 million for the receiver of the award, to distribute to other non-profit organizations. Ea ...

which as of 2024 has granted $400 million to philanthropists. She also works with the Bezos Day One Fund, which helps homeless families with housing and free preschool education. Sánchez makes trips across the

United States–Mexico border United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

with This is About Humanity, an organization dedicated to providing support for separated and reunified families at the border. She was honored by the organization at their annual fundraising event in 2023.

Personal life

Sánchez's first son was born in February 2001. His father is former

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

tight end The tight end (TE) is an offense (sports), offensive position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football. It is a hybrid that combines the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a receiver (football), receiv ...

Tony Gonzalez. In August 2005, she married Patrick Whitesell, a Hollywood agent and founding partner of Endeavor talent agency. Their son was born in 2006, and their daughter was born in 2008. In 2018, Sánchez had an affair with businessman and

founder

, while each was married to other people. In January 2019, Bezos and his wife,

MacKenzie Scott MacKenzie Scott ( Tuttle, formerly Bezos; born April 7, 1970) is an American novelist, philanthropist, co-founder of Amazon, and ex-wife of Jeff Bezos. As of May 2025, she has a net worth of US$35.9 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionair ...

, released a joint statement that they would seek a divorce, after 25 years together. In February 2019, Bezos published allegations that ''

National Enquirer The ''National Enquirer'' is an American tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1926, the newspaper has undergone a number of changes over the years. The ''National Enquirer'' openly acknowledges that it pays Source (journalism), sources for tips (chec ...

'' publisher American Media, Inc. had attempted blackmail and

extortion Extortion is the practice of obtaining benefit (e.g., money or goods) through coercion. In most jurisdictions it is likely to constitute a criminal offence. Robbery is the simplest and most common form of extortion, although making unfounded ...

in connection with Bezos's relationship with Sánchez. In April 2019, the court finalized Bezos's divorce from Scott, and a court granted divorce to Sánchez and Whitesell in October 2019. In 2020, the media referred to Sánchez as Bezos's

girlfriend A girlfriend is a woman who is a friend, acquaintance or partner to the speaker, usually a female companion with whom one is platonically, romantically, or sexually involved. In a romantic context, this normally signifies a committed r ...

. On May 22, 2023, CNN reported the

engagement An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''f ...

of Sánchez to Bezos.

Filmography

Sánchez has also made cameo appearances in films and television series, including in the following:

Film

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, Lauren 1969 births American film actresses American infotainers American reporters and correspondents American sports announcers Living people Television anchors from Los Angeles Participants in American reality television series People from Albuquerque, New Mexico American women sports commentators American television personalities of Mexican descent American women television journalists American women aviators Whitesell family 21st-century American women American actresses of Mexican descent Bezos family Television presenters with dyslexia People who have flown in suborbital spaceflight New Shepard passengers Space tourists