Amelia Santaniello is among the most celebrated American journalists, with her almost three-decade-old career in news anchoring still going strong.
Her work ethic and strong on-screen chemistry with her audience have enabled her to last long at her current workstation, WCCO-TV, a subsidiary of CBS Television Stations, which she joined in 1996.
So, what is the mother of three up to?
Amelia co-anchors WCCO News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 pm news from Monday to Friday alongside her husband, Frank Vascellaro.
The two became the first married couple to co-anchor in the Twin Cities.
Other than anchoring news for the station, Amelia also headlines outdoor events, such as live coverage of Minnesota’s State Fair the last week of August.
Amelia often shares her day-to-day activities with her followers, but there is more to learn from her career and personal life.
Amelia Santaniello’s Early Life and Career Background
Amelia was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 29, 1964.
She is of mixed race since her mother and father’s origins are Asian and Italian, respectively.
Amelia’s father served in the military, whose nature of work involved his family relocating to different cities and countries.
Amelia graduated from Marywood University in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, where she was enrolled for a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
Her journalism career commenced at WUSA in Washington as a reporter trainee. WETM-TV in Elmira, NY, was Amelia’s/next station, where she anchored weekend bulletins.
She later joined WNEP-TV in Scranton, PA, where she played the roles of an anchor and a reporter.
Amelia also anchored weekend news at Hartford’s WTIC-TV in Connecticut.
In 1996, Amelia joined CBS’s WCCO News in what would become her longest stint in her journalism career. She is still at the station, as mentioned earlier.
Amelia has achieved additional milestones in her career, such as being recognized twice as the Best Newscaster in the Twin Cities by City Pages Editors.
Amelia was once honored by Readers of The Minnesota Women’s Press as the most favorite female TV presenter locally.
Besides doing what she does best in the newsroom, Amelia is also good at public speaking and is invited to events as a speaker.
Now that you know what Amelia’s TV career entails, how about a look at her family life?
Amelia Santaniello’s Family
Back home, Amelia has a beautiful family flanked by her loving husband, Frank Vascellaro, and three kids: Sam, Joseph, and Francesca.
She adores her kids, all adults, and proudly celebrates their achievements on social media.
The family also owns fur babies and two dogs named Lola and Louie.
You can view her family photos from her social media timelines of them attending outdoor events, chilling at home, or on date nights with her husband.
Amelia is a friendly person from the look of the photos she shares online with friends, colleagues, and family.
Amelia Santaniello’s Weight Loss
Another aspect of Amelia’s life that caught people’s attention was her drastic weight loss in 2017, which she later clarified was due to a weight loss schedule and not because of sickness, as people alluded to.
She reportedly lost 90 pounds after sticking to a strict dieting and exercising routine.
Her husband Frank was not left behind in the weight loss journey.
Amelia’s healthy lifestyle has significantly contributed to her younger looks, making anyone doubt she is even close to 40. She will clock 59 years this year.
In early 2022, Amelia suffered a health scare when she tested positive for COVID-19, but her symptoms were mild because she was vaccinated.
She shared the news with her Facebook followers, explaining why they wouldn’t see her on TV for a while.
Amelia Santaniello’s Salary and Networth
Amelia must be earning an excellent salary at WCCO, given the many years she has diligently served at the station.
It is usual for news anchors to leave stations looking for greener pastures, but Amelia has proved her allegiance to CBS, and she deserves a hefty compensation for that.
Her salary is not in the public domain, but Amelia’s estimated monthly wage reportedly ranges between $60,000 and $95,000.
On the other hand, her net worth is approximated at $1 million.
How Does Amelia Unwind?
Amelia’s newsroom career can be demanding, given she is on the screens from Monday to Friday.
When not at work, she passes time by reading, hanging out with friends and family, and watching.
Amelia also loves vacationing by the beach. Her favorite TV show is Game of Thrones, while Wizard of OZ is her favorite movie.
