Elena LaQuatra is an American news anchor and journalist best known for her work at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, where she serves as the morning traffic anchor and noon news anchor. Since joining WTAE in 2015, she has earned a reputation for accurate reporting, engaging storytelling, and strong community involvement. Beyond her broadcasting career, Elena is admired for overcoming hearing loss caused by bacterial meningitis during childhood and later becoming Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016. Her inspiring journey, professional achievements, and dedication to public service have made her a respected television personality. This article explores her WTAE career, deaf story, age, husband, salary, family, and other interesting facts.
Who Is Elena LaQuatra?
Elena LaQuatra is an American television journalist, news anchor, and former beauty pageant titleholder best known for her work with WTAE Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. She currently serves as the station’s morning traffic anchor and noon news anchor, providing viewers with traffic updates, breaking news coverage, and stories that impact communities across western Pennsylvania.
In addition to her successful broadcasting career, Elena is widely admired for overcoming significant hearing loss after surviving bacterial meningitis as a young child. Her determination, resilience, and passion for journalism have inspired many people throughout her career. Before becoming a familiar face on Pittsburgh television, she also earned national recognition after being crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016 and representing the state at the Miss USA competition. Today, Elena continues to balance journalism, community involvement, and advocacy for people with hearing loss, making her one of Pittsburgh’s most respected local television personalities.
Current Profession
Elena LaQuatra is an American television journalist who works for WTAE Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. She serves as the station’s Morning Traffic Anchor and Noon News Anchor, where she delivers weekday traffic reports, breaking news coverage, weather-related travel updates, and local stories affecting viewers throughout western Pennsylvania.
Her responsibilities extend beyond the anchor desk. Elena regularly reports from the field, interviews community leaders, covers major events, and participates in outreach programs organized by WTAE. Her approachable on-air personality and commitment to accurate reporting have helped her build a strong connection with viewers.
Throughout her career, she has remained dedicated to serving her community while maintaining the professionalism expected of a trusted local journalist.
Early Life and Education
Elena LaQuatra was born on January 27, 1992, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. As of 2026, she is 34 years old.
She spent her childhood in the Pittsburgh area, where her life changed dramatically at the age of four after contracting bacterial meningitis. Although the illness resulted in permanent hearing loss in one ear, Elena never allowed the challenge to define her future. Instead, she focused on her education, personal growth, and dream of becoming a television journalist.
After graduating from high school, Elena enrolled at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism, where she developed the reporting, writing, and presentation skills that would later become the foundation of her broadcasting career. During her time at the university, she gained valuable newsroom experience and strengthened her passion for local journalism.
Broadcasting Career
Elena’s television career reflects years of dedication, hard work, and steady professional growth.
Beginning at WTAE
She first joined WTAE in 2015 as a Digital Content Creator for the station’s “4 the 412” digital platform. In this role, she produced online news stories, social media content, and digital features while learning the fast-paced environment of a major television newsroom.
Although much of her work initially focused on digital journalism, Elena wanted to build more on-air experience. That ambition led her to pursue reporting opportunities outside Pittsburgh.
Experience at WJET-TV
Following her first position at WTAE, Elena joined WJET-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a reporter and anchor. During her time there, she covered breaking news, severe weather, community events, and stories that affected local residents. The experience helped her strengthen her live reporting skills and prepared her for larger broadcasting responsibilities.
Working in Erie allowed Elena to develop confidence both in the field and behind the anchor desk. She gained valuable experience covering a wide variety of stories while continuing to refine her journalism skills.
Return to WTAE
In 2018, Elena returned to WTAE as a General Assignment Reporter. Back in her hometown, she reported on major local news, public safety issues, community events, and human-interest stories throughout western Pennsylvania.
Her consistent reporting, professionalism, and ability to connect with viewers eventually earned her expanded responsibilities. Today, she serves as WTAE’s Morning Traffic Anchor and Noon News Anchor, becoming one of the station’s most recognizable personalities.
Over the years, Elena has covered numerous important stories affecting the Pittsburgh region while remaining committed to accurate, responsible, and community-focused journalism.
Overcoming Hearing Loss
One of the most remarkable aspects of Elena LaQuatra’s life is her journey through hearing loss.
At the age of four, she became seriously ill with bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening infection that permanently affected her hearing. Although doctors were able to save her life, she lost hearing in one ear as a result of the illness.
Later, Elena received a cochlear implant, which significantly improved her ability to hear and communicate. Rather than allowing hearing loss to limit her ambitions, she continued pursuing her goals with determination and confidence.
Throughout her career, Elena has openly shared her personal experiences to encourage children and adults living with hearing loss. She regularly speaks about perseverance, confidence, and believing that disabilities should never prevent someone from pursuing their dreams.
Her story has inspired many families facing similar challenges and has helped raise awareness about hearing loss and cochlear implants throughout the community.
Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016
Before establishing herself as a television journalist, Elena LaQuatra achieved success in the pageant world.
She was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016, earning the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania at the Miss USA 2016 competition.
Her pageant experience provided valuable opportunities to strengthen her public speaking skills, leadership abilities, and community involvement. During her time as Miss Pennsylvania USA, Elena also used her platform to promote awareness of hearing loss and encourage young people to overcome personal challenges.
Competing at Miss USA further increased her public profile and introduced her inspiring story to a national audience. The confidence and communication skills she developed through pageantry later proved valuable throughout her journalism career.
Today, many people continue to recognize Elena not only as a respected news anchor but also as the woman who proudly represented Pennsylvania on the Miss USA stage.
Husband and Married Life
Elena LaQuatra is married to Jordan Bukowski. The couple announced their engagement before celebrating their wedding with family and close friends. Elena occasionally shares special moments from their life together on social media, but she generally prefers to keep her personal life private.
Despite her public career, she has maintained a healthy balance between her professional responsibilities and family life. Her husband has remained supportive of her broadcasting career, and the couple enjoys spending time together away from the spotlight.
Their relationship reflects the importance they place on privacy while still allowing viewers to celebrate some of their life’s biggest milestones.
Does Elena LaQuatra Have Children?
Many viewers search online to learn whether Elena LaQuatra has children.
At this time, Elena has not shared any information indicating that she has children. She has instead focused her public presence on her journalism career, community work, and personal achievements.
Unless Elena chooses to share updates about her family life in the future, it is best to respect her privacy.
Parents and Family
Family has played an important role throughout Elena LaQuatra’s life. After she became seriously ill with bacterial meningitis at the age of four, her parents supported her recovery and encouraged her to pursue every opportunity available to her.
Their encouragement helped Elena overcome hearing loss, succeed in school, compete in pageants, and eventually build a successful broadcasting career.
Although Elena occasionally speaks about her family’s support, she has chosen not to publicly share many personal details about her parents or other relatives. Likewise, there is no verified public information identifying a sister or discussing siblings.
Her family’s decision to remain largely out of the public eye has allowed them to maintain their privacy while continuing to support Elena throughout her career.
Salary and Net Worth
As a respected television journalist at WTAE Pittsburgh, Elena LaQuatra has built a successful professional career over the years.
WTAE has not released her official salary. Based on compensation for experienced television anchors working in similar local media markets, industry estimates suggest her annual earnings may range between $60,000 and $110,000.
Her exact net worth has also not been publicly disclosed. Based on her years in broadcast journalism, pageant career, and professional experience, various estimates place her net worth between $500,000 and $1 million.
These figures are estimates derived from publicly available industry information rather than official financial disclosures.
Height and Personal Life
Various online sources estimate Elena LaQuatra’s height at approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm), although she has not publicly confirmed this measurement.
Away from the newsroom, Elena enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, exploring the Pittsburgh community, and participating in charitable activities. She frequently attends local events and supports organizations that focus on community development and hearing-loss awareness.
Her personal experiences have inspired her to encourage others facing challenges to remain confident and determined. Through speaking engagements and community involvement, she continues to demonstrate that obstacles do not have to limit a person’s goals.
Social Media
Elena LaQuatra stays connected with viewers through her official social media accounts, where she shares newsroom updates, community events, travel experiences, and moments from her personal life.
Instagram: @elena_laquatra
Interesting Facts About Elena LaQuatra
- She was born on January 27, 1992, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- She graduated from Point Park University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
- She first joined WTAE in 2015 as a Digital Content Creator.
- She later worked as a reporter and anchor at WJET-TV in Erie before returning to WTAE in 2018.
- She currently serves as WTAE’s Morning Traffic Anchor and Noon News Anchor.
- At the age of four, she survived bacterial meningitis, which caused permanent hearing loss in one ear.
- She uses a cochlear implant and has become an advocate for hearing-loss awareness.
- She was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016 and represented Pennsylvania at Miss USA 2016.
- She is married to Jordan Bukowski.
- She remains active in community outreach and charitable initiatives throughout the Pittsburgh area.
Quick Facts
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elena LaQuatra |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1992 |
| Age (2026) | 34 Years |
| Birthplace | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Television Journalist and News Anchor |
| Current Employer | WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4 |
| Current Position | Morning Traffic Anchor and Noon News Anchor |
| Education | Point Park University (Broadcast Journalism) |
| Former Employer | WJET-TV, Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Pageant Title | Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016 |
| Miss USA Appearance | Miss USA 2016 Representative for Pennsylvania |
| Husband | Jordan Bukowski |
| Children | Elena has not announced that she has children. |
| Hearing Loss | Lost hearing in one ear after bacterial meningitis at age four; later received a cochlear implant |
| Estimated Salary | Approximately $60,000–$110,000 per year (industry estimate) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $500,000–$1 million (industry estimate) |
| Years Active | 2015–Present |
Final Thoughts
Elena LaQuatra’s career is a remarkable example of perseverance, resilience, and dedication. After overcoming hearing loss caused by bacterial meningitis during childhood, she pursued her passion for journalism with determination and built a respected career in television broadcasting. Her achievements as Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016, combined with her work as a trusted anchor at WTAE Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, have made her a familiar and admired figure throughout western Pennsylvania.
Beyond delivering the news, Elena continues to inspire others through her advocacy for hearing-loss awareness, community involvement, and commitment to public service. Her journey demonstrates that determination, hard work, and confidence can help overcome life’s greatest challenges. As she continues to grow in her broadcasting career, Elena remains a respected journalist, an inspiring role model, and a valued member of the Pittsburgh community.
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FAQs
Is Elena LaQuatra deaf?
Elena LaQuatra is not completely deaf. She lost hearing in one ear after contracting bacterial meningitis as a child and later received a cochlear implant.
Who is Elena LaQuatra’s husband?
Elena LaQuatra is married to Jordan. The couple got engaged before marrying in a private ceremony with family and close friends.
What happened to Elena LaQuatra?
As a young child, Elena contracted bacterial meningitis, which caused permanent hearing loss in one ear. She recovered and went on to build a successful career in journalism.
Was Elena LaQuatra Miss Pennsylvania?
Yes. Elena LaQuatra was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA 2016 and represented Pennsylvania at the Miss USA 2016 competition.
Who is Elena LaQuatra?
Elena LaQuatra is an American news anchor and journalist who serves as the morning traffic anchor and noon news anchor at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
