Stella Inger was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old. Although the family initially lived in Sherman Oaks, California, their journey to the U.S. began in a more complex way. “We came as refugees,” Inger recalled in an interview with the Arizona Jewish Post, conducted at KGUN9 television, where she worked as a news anchor. “We lived for six months in Italy waiting to be ‘adopted’ by a Chabad rabbi who brought us to Sioux City, Iowa.”
Describing the transition, Inger remembered the cultural shock her parents experienced. Her mother was a stay-at-home homemaker, and her father was a businessman. The family lived in Iowa for just over a year before relocating to Los Angeles, California, where they joined relatives who had also emigrated from the Soviet Union. “They told my parents to move there, that there was more opportunity for work in L.A.,” said Inger. Adjusting to her new environment wasn't easy. “I remember first going to school there. I had a hard time communicating. It took about six months to speak English well enough to make friends.”
Inger's family embraced their Jewish identity more openly in the United States. “In Russia, you had to hide it,” she said. “I was told my grandfather had to sneak matzah. It was like buying it on the black market. We secretly celebrated Passover inside our homes. Both sets of my grandparents spoke Yiddish.”
Her mother recounted her own experiences of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. As a child, she often heard slurs like, “Tell this Jew to go home. I’m not feeding her,” when visiting other children's homes. These moments left a lasting impact on the family.
Despite such challenges, Stella recognized cultural differences early on. “Being in America, I realized there was a difference between being Jewish here and in Tashkent,” she reflected. “We became very involved in the L.A. Jewish community. Our culture, our heritage is very important to us.”
Stella frequently highlights the hard work her parents put in to build a new life in America. Curious about their outlook, she once asked her father what he thought about coming to Iowa with virtually nothing in his 30s. “I wasn’t too proud to take any job I could find,” he told her. In Iowa, he drove a work truck, worked in a factory, and cleaned limousines. Her mother, who had Stella at age 21, later returned to school in Los Angeles and became an X-ray technician. “I’m following my parents’ work ethic,” Inger said.
Stella began her studies at Los Angeles Valley College before transferring to the University of Southern California, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 2005. While attending USC, she also worked as a personal banker. In her free time, Stella enjoys hiking through the scenic landscapes of Arizona with her pet dog. She practices yoga, loves cooking, and actively supports animal welfare causes.
Stella found a natural calling in broadcast journalism, which complements her outgoing and inquisitive personality. “I’m very inquisitive. I want to know more. Everyone has a story,” she said, linking her curiosity to her family’s immigration journey. She mentioned her own father, who worked as a cab driver in Los Angeles: “He has an interesting story, but I don’t know if anyone has ever asked him about it. I always have conversations with cab drivers.”
| Marital Status: | Not known |
| Profession: | Journalism |
| Nationality: | Russian |
| Employer: | HLN |
| Alma Mater: | University of Southern California |
| Birth Sign: | Cancer |
| Birth Place: | Russia |
| T.V. Show(s): | the Desert Sun |
| Birth Date: | 30 Nov, 1982 |
| Age: | 37 yrs |
| Occupations: | Journalist |
| Birth Place: | Tashkent |
| Education: | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American journalist |
| Twitter Id: | StellaNews8 |
