Jenise Fernandez

Jenise Fernandez is a six-time Emmy award winning anchor and reporter at Local 10 News. Currently, she anchors the 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. news, Monday through Friday. 

Jenise has over a decade of experience as a journalist. Since she’s been at Local 10, she’s covered some of the most impactful stories in South Florida and has had a front row seat to history. In 2025, she covered the funeral of Pope Francis from the Vatican and the subsequent conclave where she was reporting live when the “white smoke” appeared, announcing the selection of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV.

In 2019, Jenise was the only local journalist to cover Hurricane Dorian from Marsh Harbour, Bahamas as the eye of the storm moved through. She’s also had some fun along the way, flying with the Air Force Thunderbirds, skydiving with the Navy Seals, traveling with the Miami Heat during their 2023 championship run, and traveling with the Florida Panthers when they won their first Stanley Cup. 

She started her on-air career at KATC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lafayette, LA. After two years in Cajun Country, she worked as a reporter in Pensacola, FL at WEAR-TV. She was also an intern at Local 10 while in college.

Jenise was born and raised in Miami. She graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science in communications and minor in psychology. She is also a former Miss Miami and placed 4th runner-up at the Miss Florida Pageant. 

Jenise is involved with several charitable organizations, including Little Lighthouse Foundation, the American Heart Association, Make-A-Wish South Florida, and the Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami.

When not working, Jenise loves to spend time with her big Cuban family. She is also the proud "dog mommy" of Mr. Jay Gatsby, a miniature American Eskimo with a big personality. 

In her spare time, she loves to travel (30 countries and counting), read, try out new restaurants, check out the latest movies, write, and cheer on her favorite teams: the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat! 

For story ideas, or if you want to say hello or recommend a good book, you can e-mail her at jfernandez@wplg.com.