Brianda Villegas joined the 8 On Your Side team in January 2021.

This small town girl is thrilled to be living in Tampa, although it may take a while for her to get used to the tall buildings.  She was born and raised in Arcadia, Florida, where she grew up going to rodeos and listening to country music.

Before coming to WFLA, Brianda worked at WCJB-TV20 in Gainesville for more than three years. During her time at WCJB, she served as Weekend Anchor/MMJ and developed a segment featuring local businesses struggling to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lover of the Gator Nation and a former University of Florida mascot (GO GATORS!), Brianda is a proud first-generation graduate with a degree in Telecommunication News.

A big goal of hers is to help stop the stigma of mental health conditions. As a suicide prevention advocate, she wants to open the dialogue and let others know they are not alone.

Brianda is bilingual in English and Spanish and is of proud Mexican descent. She fell in love with broadcast news during her childhood after she recognizing the opportunities the platform can give others, regardless of where they come from.

When she is not working, you can most likely find Brianda at the beach, dreaming about getting a dog or working on a DIY project.

Have a news tip or just want to send over cute puppy pictures? You can email Brianda at bvillegas@wfla.com