Today Show Co-Host Sheinelle Jones' Gorgeous Transformation

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Sheinelle Jones is one of the most relatable and likable "Today" anchors. After joining the NBC team in 2014, she became an instant hit with viewers thanks to her down-to-earth personality, determination, and kind heart (not to mention, she's stunning without makeup). Jones has always put keeping it real high on her priority list, particularly when it comes to representation. "I remember in Philly, there was a little Black girl [who] said, 'I watch you every morning, and whatever color you're wearing, that's what color I wear to school,'" she told Northwestern Magazine. "That's representation. And that gives me strength. So when I look around, and I'm the only [one who looks like me in my workplace, I remember that] for people on the other side of the screen [they see someone who looks like them]. In that sense, they're never alone," the star, who has proudly worn her natural hair on the morning show, said.

Another reason Jones is so beloved? She's living proof that hard work and dedication can get you far. Jones has given much of her life to her career, rising through the ranks to get to where she is today. The determined star threw herself into education and newsroom internships and put in serious grind at TV stations across the country before landing her coveted gig on "Today." Additionally, her inspiring transformation from a young girl with big dreams to one of the most treasured stars on morning TV has been truly stunning.

Jones was born in 1978 in Philadelphia, but spent much of her childhood in Wichita, Kansas. She moved states with her mom when she was young after her parents divorced, but returned to Philadelphia each summer to visit her dad. "I had a lot of energy, I was always talking, and so it's interesting that I ended up talking for a living," she told "Today" about her childhood. Jones credited her mother for helping her reach her dreams, sharing that she would often post inspirational notes around their house when she was growing up. "I grew up surrounded by the power of intentionality," she told Northwestern Magazine. "There were quotes in my bathroom when I was in eighth grade, [like] 'If you can see it, you can be it.'"

One of Jones' big childhood goals? Becoming a journalist. Even at a young age, this inquisitive youngster knew she was destined for the newsroom. "I would take my pencil and I would interview one of my little brothers. I would say, 'What's your favorite food?' and he would say, 'Chicken nuggets,'" she recalled.

Jones was an active member of her high school as a cheerleader, student council member, and musician in the marching band. Having known since a young age that she wanted to become a journalist, she didn't waste time getting hands-on experience. "I know now that high schoolers are not [typically] in local newsrooms, but I was there — in my cheerleading skirt after school, running [the] teleprompter for Roger Cornish and Cindy Klose," she told Northwestern Magazine. "I was fascinated by it. I liked the lights. I liked the intellect. I liked the fact that you could ask questions and nobody told you to stop asking."

In 1996, she began attending Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She also enrolled in articulation classes and joined the Northwestern News Network. Determined to get a head start in her career, Jones repeatedly contacted news networks in the hopes of an internship, and her hard work paid off when she landed a gig at BET for the summer. "I slept on [my sister's] couch ... And I worked at Rainbow [a clothing store] at the mall to make money, because [I wasn't] getting paid," she recalled.

But college had a major impact on Jones' life beyond her studies. In 1998, she met Uche Ojeh, the man who would one day become her husband. "I was actually his tour guide when he was a senior in high school," Jones told "Today" of their first meeting. "I was like what a kind, polite, cute guy."

By 2000, Jones had graduated from Northwestern University and officially entered the working world. The star reflected on landing her first gig at WICS in Illinois on Instagram years later when she shared a photo of herself working on a very bulky computer. Jones told her followers she'd get to work at 3 a.m. and shared her inspirational work ethic: "I was a one-man band. So I shot my own stuff, I edited it. I did all the things. But I remember sometimes just not knowing where life was going." Jones had nothing but fond memories of the tough gig, though, and wrote in the caption, "I wouldn't trade these years for anything. I wish I could tell the news reporter in that photo that everything is going to work out."

Even though Jones moved to Illinois after college, she stayed in contact with Ojeh, and they embarked on a long-distance romance. The miles between Jones and Ojeh increased when the determined journalist later moved to Oklahoma, where she continued working her way up the ladder. Jones landed a new gig with local Fox affiliate station KOKI as a reporter and evening news anchor. While there, her dedication and skill began to be noticed, earning recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

In 2005, Jones continued traveling the country for her career. She returned to her birth state of Philadelphia to work as a general assignment reporter for "Good Day Philadelphia." That would lead to the talented TV personality to her biggest gig at that point — a regular co-hosting position on the morning show, which she nabbed in 2006.

The prestigious new role saw Jones wear many hats. Not only did she deliver the news morning after morning, but her responsibilities also included writing her own scripts, booking guests, and pitching story ideas. "I'm exhausted," she told The Philadelphia Inquirer of her busy days, revealing she would often wake up at 3:30 a.m. but wouldn't end her day until 11:30 p.m. That may explain why Jones has worn a few outfits that missed the mark.

Two thousand and seven was a huge life milestone for Jones when she tied the knot with Ojeh. Jones revealed on "Today" that she believed Ojeh was going to propose for a while before he did, and shared that he took her back to where they met, Northwestern University, to pop the question. Jones posted a throwback snap from their wedding day on Instagram in 2018 and gushed, "11 years ago on this day we were surrounded by everyone we loved as we started this journey."

Life was only about to get busier for Jones, as she and Ojeh decided to expand their family. She fell pregnant following her wedding, but, sadly, her first pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. Jones opened up about the miscarriage in a candid piece for "Today" in 2021, sharing, "I remember finding out that something was wrong; the doctor told me the baby's heartbeat was weak. In response, I did what a lot of women do: I just kept moving forward." The star experienced the heartbreak while at a journalism conference. "I was so, so, so sad. Nothing could make me feel better," she recalled while sharing the reality of her fertility journey.

Thankfully, shortly after the tragedy, Jones fell pregnant again. She and Ojeh welcomed a son, Kayin, in 2009, and two years after that, the happy couple became parents again. This time, they welcomed fraternal twins, Clara and Uche.

Jones decided it was time to leave "Good Day Philadelphia" in March 2014. "After almost nine years here, I am leaving 'Good Day' and I'm going to be with my kids," she explained on the show, through tears. "I just wanted to ... say thank you so much. This is a gift and I don't take it lightly that you're sharing your mornings with us. And I am forever grateful for it," she added. The star had been very open about the struggles of balancing life in the newsroom with being a present mom to three kids, even telling The Philadelphia Inquirer, "That's the big challenge, juggling everything, being a mommy and being awake. Moms do it every day. We're all going a mile a minute." She also opened up to The Local Moms Network about keeping so many plates spinning at home and work, sharing, "Earlier in my career I felt like I was losing touch with the kids because I was doing interviews before or after school."

Six months after her big announcement, Jones landed a huge new gig that would see the happy family move to New York and make her a national treasure. The journalist was confirmed as the new news anchor on "Weekend Today" (the weekend version of NBC's "Today"), which would mark her first job in front of the camera on a national news show. "We are delighted to welcome Sheinelle Jones to NBC News," NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a statement. "She is an experienced journalist, a fantastic reporter and a dynamic interviewer who will bring so much to Weekend TODAY and the entire NBC News team."

Jones had her foot in the door at NBC and had become a firm favorite during her time on "Weekend Today." But that was just the beginning of her work with the morning show. In early 2019, Jones was confirmed as one of "Today"'s new third-hour anchors, appearing on the weekday instalment alongside Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin. But the new role didn't make Jones' plate any less full. In fact, she was busier than ever. The anchor continued working on "Weekend Today" in addition to her new weekday gig for almost a year. "One day you're in New York and the next day you're in Nashville and then the day after that, you're at your 9-year-old's soccer tournament. So in the midst of that, it's very easy to lose yourself," she told Parade of her super busy schedule. The star attempted to take better control of her life by practicing self-care, working out, and embracing a plant-based diet.

She confirmed on "Weekend Today" in late 2019 that she was leaving the weekend edition, explaining, "Since I'm so busy on the weekdays, I thought ... I should probably see those three children that I have at home." She continued, "... Every time I look up, I feel like they look like they're a little bit older so I'm going to be home with them on Saturday mornings."

The following year, though, Jones experienced a medical issue that saw her take a six-week absence from the show. She confirmed on "Today" that she had a polyp on her vocal cord that needed to be removed via surgery. "This has been a long time coming and I've struggled off and on for so long," she wrote on Instagram.

After years on-screen as a news reporter, Jones walked a new path in 2021 and took on a role behind the scenes in TV. Jones co-executive produced her first documentary, "Stories We Tell: The Fertility Secret," alongside Andre Gaines, which put the spotlight on Black women and infertility. "For so long I have listened to girlfriends talk about the infertility challenges they battle behind closed doors. I have watched them struggle silently. They move forward with their careers, go to church, the gym — all while carrying this painful secret," she told "Today" of why she produced the project, which won her a Gracie award.

Three years later, Jones made another big, well-deserved career move when she announced she'd be releasing her own book, "Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans." "[It's] an inspiring collection of heartfelt life-lessons from hard working moms who raised some of our favorite celebrities," Jones wrote on Instagram, sharing the book included quotes from the moms of Lady Gaga, Serena and Venus Williams, and Steph Curry. The book also featured words of wisdom from celebs who have learned a lot from their mothers.

Despite being one of the busiest stars on TV, Jones somehow found time to take on a major personal challenge, too. In 2023, she successfully ran the New York Marathon. "I just turned 45 and I'm going to try to do hard things," she said on "Today" of why she took on the ambitious challenge (remember, you can always walk a marathon, too!).

Jones suffered a devastating heartbreak in May 2025 when her husband Ojeh died. Ojeh, who was 45, had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, and Jones had taken a leave of absence from "Today" to take care of him in his final days and prepare for the impending loss of her loved one. She spoke candidly about his tragic death on "Today" four months after his passing, sharing, "My heart is shattered in a million pieces. The life that I've known since I was 19 is no more." However, she added, "I'm proud of myself for how I've coped so far. I'm so proud of my kids for how we've been able to try to pull through but it's horrible."

The star's famous friends rallied around her during this unimaginably difficult time. "So proud of you Sheinelle ... You will find happiness as will your beautiful children. It will be a different kind of journey but his love and courage will lift you the entire way," Katie Couric wrote on Instagram. Hoda Kotb also spread the love, writing, "Sheinelle — we are all rooting for you — God's got you — and so do we!!!"

That same month, Jones made an emotional return to "Today" after taking some time away to grieve and be with her family. The morning show shared footage of the star returning to the studio on Instagram, and the comments were flooded with love. "We all love her. Saw this morning and I cried," one Instagram user wrote. "She is such a wonderful human being. So happy to see her back," another "Today" viewer commented.

Following a very difficult 2025, Jones' 2026 didn't get off to the most joyous start. She confirmed on Instagram that she suddenly lost her grandmother on New Year's Eve. "Anyone who knows me knows that 'Grandmama,' Josephine Vonceal Pace Brown, was my world; my best buddy, my confidante, and my unapologetic cheerleader," she captioned a series of photos of the two together. Jones also opened up about how much the deaths of her grandmother and husband had impacted her. "Life is so precious, and I can't help but be changed by the last year and a half," she wrote.

Thankfully, though, things began to look up as she celebrated another major career milestone. NBC had confirmed in late 2025 that Jones would be leaving her position on "Weekend Today" after landing the prestigious gig as Jenna Bush Hager's co-host on "Today"'s fourth hour following Hoda Kotb's departure. The segment was renamed "Today with Jenna & Sheinelle," and Jones made her debut on January 12. "To have a show like this is beyond my wildest dreams. This is the real deal, and I get to do it with Jenna," Jones gushed during her first episode. In a behind-the-scenes clip shared to Instagram, the visibly emotional star said, "One of the best days of my life."

Viewers couldn't get enough of the fourth hour's newest recruit, as social media was flooded with praise following her debut appearance. "Congrats and it's all full circle. Great team!!" one Instagram user commented. Another wrote, "What an emotional, beautiful day! Wishing you all the success you deserve." With such an incredible work ethic and so much love around her, there's truly nothing Sheinelle Jones can't do.