Career
She made broadcast history by becoming the first newscaster ever to anchor the news on two stations in the same market, with the unprecedented Viacom-owned duopoly of KCBS and KCAL-television She is one of the stations" most able and popular newswomen, and a highly requested speaker. Before coming to the second largest television market in the nation, Leyna was a news anchor and reporter for National Broadcasting Company-affiliate KCRA-television in Sacramento, California, where she also hosted a quarterly program on Asian-American issues. Before California, Leyna was in Augusta, Georgia anchoring the news on Columbia Broadcasting System-affiliate WRDW-television She has also appeared in over 30 television shows and movies such as NCIS, Boston Legal, Austin Powers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Leyna hosted the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon with entertainer Casey Kasem, and the Southern California Special Olympics Summer games, with Hall of Famer James Worthy.
She"s also involved in the Vietnamese Entertainment industry. She also plays herself in numerous films and television shows.
Leyna was born in Vietnam and came to the United States in 1975. She earned a degree in Mass Communications from Webster University in Saint Louis.
While in Saint Louis, Leyna was the "Morning Drive" personality for jazz radio station WEBU, and was a substitute teacher for grades K through 6.
In 1987, Leyna was crowned "Mission Asia," in 1996, she was named "Young Women’s Christian Association Woman of the year," in 2000, she was designated one of the country"s "25 Most Influential Vietnamese-Americans in 25 years," and in 2011, she was honored by the California State Legislature as Woman of the Year for her philanthropic work. Leyna has a non-profit foundation called LOVE ACROSS THE OCEAN, which benefits underprivileged school children in Vietnam and assists refugees in Southern California. Her hobbies include martial arts, paragliding, music, and cooking.