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When I arrive on set at 10:30 a.m. for this month’s cover shoot, Natalie Morales is already in the makeup chair, gazing out the window across New York City’s 11th Avenue and chatting about her home in Hoboken, New Jersey. Looking effortlessly cool in a miniskirt, black blazer and stiletto ankle boots, it’s hard to believe that this newswoman and busy mother of two has already been awake for six hours. Yet Morales’ unbridled energy makes it easy to understand her meteoric rise.

After graduating from Rutgers University with a double major in journalism and Latin American studies, she accepted a job in finance at Chemical Bank before heading to Court TV to work as a marketing and public relations assistant. Only then did Morales choose to pursue a career in front of the camera, cutting her teeth as the morning anchor for News 12 Bronx.

She was a natural – both behind the news desk and in the field, and in the next few years, circumvented the monkey-barring from market to market that denotes the early stages of so many aspiring television journalists’ young careers. Morales further refined her skills at NBC-owned WWIT in Hartford, and, in 2002, MSNBC hired the rising star to join their team as an anchor and reporter. By the end of that year, Morales was filling in on weekends for the Today show’s news desk, and then subbing on weekdays. In 2006, Morales got the kind of break most journalists only dream of when she was named a national correspondent for Today.

Today’s schedule – up early and home late – is challenging, but Morales wouldn’t have it any other way. “From my perspective, it’s the perfect job. Everyday … I pinch myself.”

Morales, the youngest of the Today anchors, gushes about her coworkers, household names like Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, and Al Roker. Morales lauds Lauer’s interview skills, Vieira’s ability to engage on any topic, Curry’s reporting, and Roker’s humor. “It’s all about the combination. Everyone brings something different to the table.” When I ask what she brings, she pauses thoughtfully. “I like to think that I bring everyone together.” She shakes her head and commits. That’s her final answer.

The Today show’s reputation for variety allows Morales to mix it up and showcase the very versatility that helped her land her coveted role in this all-star ensemble. From interviews with celebrities and world leaders to Olympic field reports (she reported from Vancouver this winter), Morales has done it all. As she explains, “No day is really average.”

Today is no exception. Propped against a velvet couch in the lobby of Ink48, a swanky boutique hotel in midtown Manhattan, a wind machine blowing gentle currents through her chestnut hair, Morales is adding a new experience to her repertoire: covergirl.

The stylist fusses over the voluminous feather shrug that sits on Morales’ slim shoulders, prompting the delighted newswoman to proclaim, “I feel like a glamour girl!”

And, boy, does she look the part. Although she claims to be a “plain Jane on the weekend,” there is nothing plain about Natalie Morales. With or without makeup, her big green eyes and megawatt smile shine.

The photographer offers direction: “Sexy!” “Flirty!” “Kill me with your look.”

“I’ve been known to do that. Right,” Morales responds playfully.

Throughout the shoot, Morales speaks easily in Spanish and in English, her Portuguese fluency tucked into her back pocket. As the crew peppers her with questions, Morales replies with studied measure – she was born in Taiwan, her father was in the U.S. Airforce, her mother is Brazilian, her father Puerto Rican – and then pivots to her role as interviewer. It is clear that she prefers to ask the questions. “Where are you from? What do you do?” she inquires of everyone on the set.

Riding in the hotel elevator between wardrobe changes, I ask how she handles it all: marriage, motherhood, a high profile, high-impact job, and outlier days like this. She smiles gently. “There is no one answer to that. I handle it day by day as all working moms do.”

Morales speaks lovingly of her husband, and her two sons, Josh, 5, and Luke, 1. When she’s not working – and she’s working a lot – Morales is in what she calls “mommy mode,” hitting the playground in jeans and a T-shirt and focusing on her boys. In Hoboken, “People know me as Josh’s mom or Luke’s mom, not Natalie Morales from the Today show,” she says. “That’s the title I prefer.”

Morales slips into the fully sequined dress that the stylist has brought for the cover photo, and everyone coos over the way the dress hugs Morales’ lithe figure. Morales, who gave birth to her second son just over a year ago, has been running her entire life, and began training for marathons in 1995. For Morales, running is as much about stress relief as it is about staying fit. “I do some of my best thinking on my long runs,” she explains.

As the makeup artist touches up Morales for another round of photos, we chat about the rise of the “Wise Latina.” Morales disregards our rise as a new phenomenon. “I thought we were always hot. Are we hotter than hot?” Morales laughs and then looks me straight in the eye, with an anchorwoman’s certitude and declares: “We’re on fire.”

If Morales’ success is any measure, then there can be no doubt. 

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Behind the scenes: Natalie Morales was shot exclusively for CATALINA at Kimpton's newest property Ink48 (www.Ink48.com), in New York City, by photographer Gio Alma. Natalie was styled by Irma Martinez, with hair and makeup by Bryan Lynde. Pick up the current issue of CATALINA for behind-the-scenes photos with the CATALINA team.

Photo credits: Cover photo: Sparkle dress, Top Shop New York; Diamond earrings - Trendy Studio; and Black sparkle shoes, Trendy Studio, Miami, Fla. Top left photo: Fur coat, REISS; Black bow blouse, Ted Baker; Pencil pant, REISS; Black boots, Christian Louboutin; Earrings, J Crew; Ring, BCBG Max Azria. Third photo: Red dress, Rafael Cennamo; Earrings, Top Shop New York. Fourth photo: One shoulder black blouse, REISS; Lime green mini skirt, REISS; Gold and black stilettos, Badgley Mischka from KoKo & Palenki. Bulldog was lovingly styled by Jess Duran. All fashions seen here areavailable in Aventura Mall, Florida.

About Riggins the bulldog: Natalie graciously posed with 10-year-old Riggins, a rescued bulldog adopted by CATALINA publisher Cathy Areu in 2002 from On The Rebound bulldog rescue in the DC area. Help a bulldog in need today. Visit OTRBulldogRescue.org.
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More from this issue:

In My Words : NCLR President Janet Murguia talks about growing up Latina in Kansas, and more. Read more >>

Thoughts: Sonia Manzano: In her opinion piece, CATALINA regular contributor Sonia Manzano (“Maria” from Sesame Street) shares thoughts on Haiti. Read more >>

Travel: My NY: Explore the Big Apple like a VIP, thanks to tips from Fox5 sports anchor Andy Rosa Adler. Read more >>