Mary Nguyen

In 2013, she started working as an investigative and general assignment reporter at KPNX-TV, the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona. She was also a contributing writer for USA Today and The Arizona Republic. During her time in Arizona, she covered numerous stories including the highly publicized Jodi Arias case, and the Yanira Maldonaldo case where an Arizona mother was detained after Mexican officials accused her of smuggling marijuana into the country. Maldonado's case sparked widespread media coverage and attention from U.S. lawmakers as family members pushed for her freedom "Yanira Maldonado freed from Mexican jail - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-04-03 .

Nguyen was known for her investigative reports about legal issues and the criminal justice system. She shed light to viewers when she broke the story about an Orange County county commissioner who was indicted for taking illegal campaign contributions and then later tried to go on welfare. During the nine years she was in Orlando, she continued to report on the complexities of the justice system while covering controversial cases such as the Casey Anthony case, Trayvon Martin case and covered the Tiger Woods case. In 2012, Nguyen left WFTV.

In 2009, she was nominated for an Emmy in the politics/government category for her investigation into the Orange County Jail Chief who was accused of misusing tax -payer funds. Mary broke international stories, which have fueled a public debate between two religions. In 2009, a Sri Lankan girl named Rifqa Bary, ran away from her home in Ohio to Florida. She claimed her Muslim parents were going to kill her for becoming a Christian.

In 2003, Nguyen started working as a reporter at WFTV, the ABC-affiliate television station in Orlando, Florida. Nguyen started to focus her efforts on reporting on the legal system, politics and government. Her reports showed the public that justice is served, criminals are punished and people are held accountable in the criminal and civil justice system.

In 1999, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, Nguyen served as the President of UCLA's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. A Mark of Excellence Journalism award was given to Nguyen for her work in the journalism field while at UCLA.

Mary Nguyen started her career in 1999 in Waterloo, Iowa at KWWL-TV, the NBC affiliate. She later moved to Wichita, Kansas and worked at KAKE-TV, the ABC affiliate. Then in 2001, Nguyen began reporting in Little Rock, Arkansas at KATV-TV, the ABC affiliate. There, Nguyen covered politics and government including the extensive fundraising efforts led by the Clinton Foundation to build the 165 million dollar Clinton Presidential Center.

In 1993 Nguyen won Miss Teenage America. Petersen Publishing Company owned 'TEEN Magazine and as part Miss Teenage America's responsibilities, Nguyen was given a monthly column. The column was typically dedicated to stories about make-up, fashion, and beauty. However, "TEEN Magazine editors decided to change the column's structure and added an advice column component. There readers wrote to the magazine seeking advice and Nguyen addressed their teen concerns. In addition, Nguyen was a public speaker and travelled throughout the country speaking to teens and advocated against peer pressure, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Subsequently, Nguyen was later published in the Los Angeles Times as a guest writer.

Nguyen is also known for being the first Asian-American to win 'TEEN Magazine's Miss Teenage America program 1993. Her mother, Mai Pham, thought it brought honor to the Vietnamese community and reminded them that "their assimilation into U.S. culture" was fairly complete.

Mary H. Nguyen-Nodelman (born April 6, 1976) is an American journalist and Attorney. The investigative journalist and Emmy nominated reporter has worked at various ABC, NBC and Fox Television stations across the country. Nguyen is also known as the first Asian-American Miss Teenage America.