Liberte Chan left meteorolog! Her bio, net worth, divorce, husband, and kids.

Growing up, few people would have thought that Liberte Chan would take up journalism. After all, the meteorologist was a competitive figure skater and was ranked nationally in both singles and pairs. She had all the skills to go pro with figure skating and no one would have been surprised had she chosen to do so. But Liberte took a hard turn and decided to pursue higher education with a degree in journalism and worked as a meteorologist. Alongside her career as a meteorologist, Liberte doubled down as a fashion blogger and currently serves as the CEO of Softub Spas. In this article, we will take a closer look at the wiki-bio of Liberte Chan.

Table of Contents

Early Life

Liberte Chan was born on June 16, 1979, in Los Angeles. Born to a Chinese mother and Caucasian father, Liberte comes from a mixed ethnicity. However, she took to both cultures with equal enthusiasm and is well-versed in both of them. The youngest of three siblings, Liberte spent most of her early life with her two older brothers, Randy and Cory in Los Angeles.

As a young kid, and during her teenage years, Liberte was a competitive figure skater. She was ranked in both singles and pairs and was quite good at the sport.

Education

After graduating from a local high school, Liberte enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She sought to further her studies and decided to enroll at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. She graduated with a master’s degree in Public Health and also earned a certification in broadcast journalism from UCLA, around the same time. It was until the early 2010s, that Liberte decided to go for her certificate in meteorology. She earned her certificate from Mississippi State University in August 2015.

Professional Career

Liberte Chan is a multifaceted media personality who has excelled in various roles as a journalist, news anchor, meteorologist, blogger, and entrepreneur. She is widely recognized for her elegant style and passion for health and wellness.

Chan started her career as a news writer at KTLA-5 in 2003, where she worked for the program ‘News at 10’. She then pursued her dream of becoming a health reporter and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from USC. She gained experience as a general assignment reporter and weathercaster in Santa Maria and Palm Springs before returning to KTLA in 2010.

For over a decade, Chan was a popular meteorologist and reporter on the highly-rated KTLA Weekend Morning News and weekday afternoon shows. She covered various topics ranging from weather, entertainment, lifestyle, to fashion. She also co-founded Sweat with Soul, a fitness apparel company, and launched Life of Liberte, a blog that shares beauty tips and healthy food recipes.

In 2021, Chan made a bold decision to leave the news industry and pursue other opportunities that aligned with her interests and values. She was inspired by her mother’s death after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer to focus on things that bring her joy. She became the CEO and shareholder of Softub Spas®, an L.A.-based company that manufactures unique hot tubs that are energy-efficient, portable, and plug into an isolated 115v outlet. This was a family business that her father ran before he was diagnosed with ALS.

Chan is now leading an international business that promotes relaxation and wellness. She is also an active health and wellness influencer on social media, where she practices yoga daily and promotes products and practices that enhance well-being. 

Controversies

Liberte Chan has faced some controversies over the years, mainly related to her choice of attire on air. One of the most notable incidents happened in May 2016, when Chan was delivering the weather forecast wearing a beaded black dress that some viewers deemed inappropriate for the morning show. As she was speaking, a gray cardigan appeared on her arm, handed by her co-anchor Chris Burrous, who said that they were “getting a lot of emails” about her dress. Chan seemed surprised and confused, but put on the cardigan anyway, joking that she looked like “a librarian now”. The awkward exchange was captured on video and went viral on social media, sparking a heated debate about office dress codes, sexism, and body shaming.

Chan later explained that she had planned to wear a different dress that day, but it clashed with the green screen, so she had to change at the last minute. She also clarified that Burrous was trying to be funny and that she was not offended by his gesture. She said that she did not mind the feedback from the viewers, but asked them to be respectful and not to attack her co-workers. She also thanked her fans for their support and defended her right to wear whatever she wanted.

Another controversy involving Chan occurred in January 2021, when she was absent from the station for several weeks without explanation. Her loyal fans started to wonder what had happened to her, and whether she was sick or had left KTLA. Some of them expressed their concern and curiosity on Twitter, tagging Chan and asking for updates.

Chan did not directly address the questions about her whereabouts, but she did post some personal photos and videos on Instagram, revealing that she was on vacation in Aspen, Colorado. She seemed to be enjoying the snowy weather, skiing, skating, and doing yoga. 

Turned out, her contract with KTLA ended in February 2022 and she decided to leave the news industry after nearly a decade at the station. She said her passion for news had faded and there were other opportunities she wanted to explore. She also mentioned that her mother’s recent death from pancreatic cancer contributed to her decision.

Net Worth

Liberte Chan is a well-known American journalist and entrepreneur who has amassed a fortune from her diverse endeavors. She has a net worth estimated at $3 million. She has earned most of her wealth from her long and successful career in the field of journalism, especially as a meteorologist and co-host on the KTLA Network. She has also ventured into the family business of Softub Spas®, where she serves as the CEO and part-owner with her two brothers. Additionally, she is a certified yoga teacher and a health and wellness influencer who promotes various products and practices on her social media platforms.

Personal Life

Liberte Chan was married to Brian Chase, an American actor whom she met through mutual friends. They tied the knot in mid-2012. They seemed to have it all: a successful career, a loving relationship, and a bright future.

But life had other plans for Liberte. In 2017, she and Brian decided to end their marriage and get a divorce. They never disclosed the reasons for their split, but they remained on good terms. Liberte was heartbroken, but she tried to move on with her life.

She focused on her work at KTLA, where she was one of the most popular TV personalities. She also developed her interest in blogging, yoga, and wellness. She launched her own clothing line, “Sweat With Soul”, which offered premium lifestyle wear. She became a digital creator, sharing her tips on travel, fashion, and lifestyle on her social media platforms.

She also found love again with Brett Hoebel, a celebrity fitness trainer and former trainer on The Biggest Loser. They dated for a while and even got engaged, but they eventually called it off and separated.

Meanwhile, Liberte was also dealing with a family tragedy. Her father, Tom Chan, was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Liberte was devastated by the news, but she tried to support her father as much as she could.

She also learned more about his business, which he had started when he married her mother, who was of Chinese descent. Liberte had never been interested in joining the family business before, as she wanted to make her own mark in the news industry. But as her father’s condition worsened, she realized that he needed someone to take over his legacy.

She decided to leave KTLA in 2021, after nearly a decade at the station. She said that her passion for news had faded and that there were other opportunities she wanted to explore. She became the CEO of Softub Spas®, partly owning the company with her two brothers. She also became the face and voice of the company, something that her father had asked her to do years ago but she had declined.

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She also found love again with Luis Strohmeier, a partner and wealth advisor at Octavia Wealth Advisors, LLC. They met on a plane from Paris to LA on June 1, 2019. The pair take it slow and went on their first date a few months later in October. On the occasion of one year anniversary on October 2, 2020, Strohmeier proposed to her with a diamond ring on his private jet on the way to Paso Robles. She said ‘Yes’ and became a blended family with Luis’ three children from his previous marriage. He also gave her a sparkling tennis bracelet. The couple celebrated their fourth year anniversary on June 1, 2023.

Liberte Chan’s life has been a tale of love, loss, and rebirth. She has faced many challenges and changes in her personal and professional life, but she has always emerged stronger and wiser. She has followed her passions and dreams, while also honoring her family and heritage. She has found happiness and fulfillment in her new roles as a CEO, a digital creator, and a wife. She has proven that she is not only a weatherwoman but also a woman of substance.

Physical Traits

Liberte Chan has dark hair and Hazel eyes. She has a slender and fit physique, which she maintains by practicing yoga daily. She has a radiant smile and a confident posture. Some of her dressing style features are:

• She likes to wear elegant and sophisticated outfits, such as little black dresses, tailored suits, and chic coats.
• She also likes to experiment with different fabrics and textures, such as leather, lace, and fungi-based material.
• She accessorizes her outfits with stylish shoes, jewelry, and sunglasses.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Value
Full name	Liberte Chan
Date of birth	July 16, 1979
Age	43 years (as of June 2023)
Place of birth	Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Mixed (Chinese and White)
Parents	Tom and Angie Thornbury
Siblings	Two older brothers, Randy and Cory
Education	Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Master of Public Health from Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Certificate in Broadcast Journalism from UCLA; Certificate in Meteorology from Mississippi State University
Profession	Meteorologist, reporter, blogger, certified yoga teacher, enterprenuer
Years active	2003 – present
Height	N/A
Weight	N/A
Hair color	Dark brown
Eye color	Hazel
Marital status	Engaged
Partner	Luis Strohmeier
Ex-husband	Brian Chase