Houston Radio: KTBZ's Tessa Barrera Joins KPRC TV Show

Tessa Barrera (2nd on right)

A familiar voice is taking a seat as a permanent co-host on KPRC 2's "Houston Life."

The show announced Tessa Barrera, morning radio host on KTBZ 94.5 The Buzz's "The Rod Ryan show," is the new host replacing Courtney Zavala, who departed almost eight months ago. 

Barrera will keep her job at the radio station, while also co-hosting the daily afternoon lifestyle show with Derrick Shore, Click2Houston said in announcing her new gig. She had previously been a guest-host on the show, reports The Houston Chronicle.

"I've been a fan since I moved here, and now I'm on the freakin' set here," she said in her debut show. Barrera's radio family, her mother and her siblings congratulated her with well wishes on the show.

Barrera also gave a shout out to Corpus Christi, where she grew up and from where her mom watches the show. She moved to Houston from Corpus Christi four years ago. While there, she was the first Latina sports anchor at KZTV-10, according to KPRC 2. 

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 13-year-old Chihuahua.