You’d be hard pressed to find a reporter with a more impressive resume thanPaula Zahn.
She’s also sat down and chatted with famed human rights activist Winnie Mandela.
Zahn has a knack for securing interviews with all “the greats.”
Baseball iconJoe DiMaggioonce sat down with Zahn, and Hollywood starletSophia Lorenchatted with her as well.
But great careers aren’t only built on family legacy or money.
Nope, Zahn built her career from the ground up.
Here’s everything you should know about the stunning transformation of Paula Zahn.
But her career actually has some pretty humble roots.
“I think we grew up in a very special time.
It really was a great home town, a very family-oriented place,” she said.
In fact, Zahn made it to the semi-finals of the 1973 Miss Teenage America Pageant.
Almost as surprising as her beauty pageant past?
Her time as a musician.
Zahn’s cello skills were so impressive she secured a cello scholarship for college.
It wasn’t long until the couple traded Beantown for a home in New York City.
Cohen was no stranger to buying and selling property, after all.
He’s a real estate developer.
Unfortunately, a beautiful home doesn’t always make for a smooth-sailing marriage.
By 2007, things had reportedly turned murky between the once-loving pair.
According to theAssociated Press, the journalist gave birth to a healthy baby boy in October 1993.
The television host reportedly went into labor while at home watchingThe Late Show With David Letterman.
She was brought directly to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where she welcomed her bundle of joy.
The couple put a three-year gap between their second and third child.
What a way to start the new year!
Her showPaula Zahn Nowpremiered in September 2003, and saw a successful run in its four years on television.
That is not what I do."
CNN announced anchor Campbell Brown as Zahn’s replacement.
Paula Zahn’s worked for a number of major television networks
Where has Paula Zahn worked before?
“I remember going through all the predictable stages when my parents were diagnosed.
I was extremely angry; I probably was in a state of denial for a while.
Immediately, there were whispers Zahn was involved with another man, whomRadarclaimed was Conti Group CEO Paul Fribourg.
Zahn’s rep addressed the speculation directly in hopes of damage control.
“They are planning to divorce,” a statement from Howard Rubenstein read.
“In the interest of their children, they will not discuss it any further,” he added.
Fribourg and Cohen were reportedly best friends, which only increased public interest in the scandal.
Reportedly, Cohen was completely blindsided by the news of the rumored affair.
“I had no inkling there was a long-term romance.”
The series, which she also executive produces, focuses on cracking crimes, usually disappearances and murders.
At least, according to its ratings.
According toBroadcasting & Cable, the show drew 541,000 households in its 2010 season premiere.
According to herWTTW.com bio, she’s been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards through the years.
She was once given the National Commission of Working Women Broadcasting Award.
Additionally, her work in cancer awareness landed her an award from the Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness.
Few TV-centric awards hold more value than an Emmy, though, and Zahn’s were well-deserved.
One of her nine Emmys stemmed from her work surrounding education for mentally disabled persons in 1994.
Three years later, she scooped up an Emmy for her thorough coverage of Princess Diana’s passing.
Whether it’s a public interest crime story or a global crisis, Zahn’s investigative work is unparalleled.
