Clara Benitez-Cortez Biography
Clara Benitez-Cortez is a renowned American Emmy Award-winning Journalist working as the evening anchor and reporter at KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, Texas. She joined the station in April 2023 after previously working as a Communications Associate at GoFundMe.
Education | Career
Benitez-Cortez attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she pursued a degree in Broadcast Journalism/Mass Communication. During her time there, she worked as a Borderlands Reporter for Cronkite News in Phoenix. Clara also interned at the City of Phoenix as a broadcast intern and at 12 News (KPNX-TV, NBC) as an Arizona Midday intern.
She serves as the evening anchor and reporter at KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, Texas. She joined the station in April 2023 and has already become a key figure among KRIS-TV viewers. In this role, she continues to report on impactful stories, particularly those involving border issues and community concerns. Before joining KRIS-TV, Benitez-Cortez worked as a Communications Associate at GoFundMe, a position she held from November 2022 to April 2023.
Prior to that, she worked as a reporter at FOX 5 San Diego (from April 2021 to October 2022), where her reporting shed light on the long journeys Ukrainian refugees were making to reach the U.S.-Mexico border. Notably, Benitez-Cortez began her career at KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon, where she served as a weather anchor/multimedia journalist. At this station, she covered the demolition of the historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Her next stop was at KVEO-TV, a Nexstar Media Group, Inc. affiliate station in Harlingen, Texas, where she held several roles since joining in June 2018. Occasionally, she worked as an evening anchor, investigative reporter, weekend anchor, and reporter/MMJ.
Among the accolades she has received over her broadcasting journey are an Associated Press award for her investigative work on the disappearance of a South Texas attorney known as “El Gallito” and an Emmy Award. Other notable coverages include the Trump administration’s family separation policy and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), which forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico.
Parents | Family
Benitez-Cortez was born and raised in the United States, but has chosen to keep details about her family private. As a result, specifics about her family background remain unavailable to the public. On June 19, 2021, she posted a photo of her mom on her Instagram account. She captioned, “My mom finally became a United States Citizen, after being a resident for more than 25+ years! She achieved her American Dream! 🇺🇸 My mom is resilient, hard working & extremely dedicated.” Any updates will be shared if and when she decides to disclose more.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Age
Benitez-Cortez was born in McAllen, Texas, United States, but has chosen not to disclose specific details about her date of birth, including the day, month, and year. As a result, her exact age and birthday remain unknown to the public. While updates will be provided if and when this information is shared, current estimates based on appearance suggest she may be in her 30s.
Husband | Children
Benitez-Cortez is married to her longtime partner, Marcus Cortez. The couple got engaged in October 2022 and later tied the knot on November 5, 2023, in Querétaro, Mexico. On their engagement day, she posted a photo of herself and her partner on her Instagram account. She captioned, “Something incredible happened this weekend! I said, ‘Yes!’ to my best friend! 💍🤍 We met during our time at ASU, & ever-since then our bond only grew. I can’t wait to spend forever with you, Marcus! #“
Together, they are proud parents to their son Ezekiel, born in January 2025. On July 10, 2025, she posted herself with her son on her Instagram account. She captioned, “She is a working mama! 🤠 So thankful to have been off for the first 4 months of Ezekiel’s life. Coming back to work has been an adjustment…”
Clara Benitez-Cortez Salary
Benitez-Cortez’s salary ranges between $20,000 and $55,000.
Net Worth
Benitez-Cortez has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $5 million. Her primary source of income is working as a Journalist.
Social Media Platforms
Benitez-Cortez is very active on social media, i.e., Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. She has over 1.8k followers on Instagram @clarabeniteztv, over 7.6k followers on Facebook @Clara Benitez-Cortez TV, and 2.5k followers on Twitter @ClaraBenitezTV.
Clara Benitez-Cortez Height
Benitez-Cortez stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 6 inches.
Quick Facts About Clara Benitez-Cortez
- Age: Even after thorough research, we were unable to establish Benitez’s age, as this is information she prefers to keep private
- Marital Status: Clara is married to her longtime partner, Marcus Cortez
- Net Worth: She has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million and $5 Million
- Salary: Clara receives an estimated annual salary of between $20 000 and $50 000
- Nationality: She is American
- Height: Clara stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 6 inches.