Michelle Esteban

Anchor / Reporter

Michelle fell in love with Seattle from the air. Flying over Seattle, she and her husband took one look at the city, Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier and said, "We're moving to Seattle!" Less than a year later, in July of 2000 Michelle joined the KOMO TV.

She is our Weekend Evening Anchor and a member of the award winning Problem Solvers Unit.

Michelle has 9 Regional Emmy awards - two for her reporting on Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). It is the most deadly and lethal form of breast cancer. Michelle discovered most patients never heard of IBC until they got it. Her initial report was so popular; more than 20 million people downloaded it from our web site. Her reports triggered a chain reaction of IBC reporting around the country and the nation's first IBC Clinic opened in Houston, Texas in October of 2006 - the Clinic's founder said Michelle's reporting helped to pave the way for the new clinic.

In 2008 Michelle won the prestigious Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her report; "Spy in your Pocket". She proved how even with your cell phone turned off - software could be used against you to listen in on your phone conversations and for that matter any conversations in the vicinity of your phone.

Also in 2008 and 2010, Michelle won the Regional Emmy for Best Reporter beating out TV reporters in Seattle and three other states. She took home two Emmys for her Problem Solver Reports on James O'Neal 'The Man with Half a Face.' Her reports told the story of O'Neal who was born with a genetic disorder that covered half his face with tumors. Despite his disfigurement James chose to never hide - his inspirational story prompted viewers to donate money for reconstructive surgery.

Her reports on the dangers of a toy (magnetic building sets) led the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall 3.4 million Magnetix building sets. Michelle reported that tiny magnets found inside the plastic building pieces and rods could easily fall out and that those magnets found by young children could be swallowed or aspirated. Michelle's investigation began when she first reported that a 20 month old Redmond toddler died after he swallowed magnets that twisted his small intestine and created a blockage.

Prior to KOMO-TV, Michelle spent three years in Phoenix, Arizona. She reported and anchored the morning and noon broadcasts.

She graduated from Penn State and began her TV reporting career in Ohio then landed a reporting position in her hometown, Pittsburgh. Michelle says she 'bleeds black and gold' - she's a diehard Steelers fan. Both Michelle and her husband’s family live outside of Pittsburgh. On rare occasions she speaks, 'Pittsburghese' - during winter storms she’s often heard saying “It’s 'slippy' out here.” Translation: It’s slippery.

When she's not storytelling - Michelle is on the golf course as much as possible. She is an admitted hacker, who is addicted to the game. When she’s not golfing, she is in Washington's backcountry; hiking, climbing or snowshoeing. She loves to cook and entertain; she insists her favorite past time is eating good food.

Recent stories by Michelle Esteban