Last year on Ash Wednesday, viewers in Portland, Oregon, saw something rare on their nightly news: CBS affiliate KOIN 6 anchor Elizabeth Dinh sitting behind the desk with a quiet cross of ashes marking her forehead.
In one of America’s most secular cities, Elizabeth spent the day pondering whether she should wipe them off before going on air, as she was nervous about the reaction she might get. At the last moment, she chose not to hide - a simple, defiant act of faith broadcast across Oregon.
A cradle Catholic raised in a Vietnamese home in Texas, Elizabeth’s faith was shaped by her mother, a woman who dreamed of becoming a nun but entered an arranged marriage at 15.
Though Elizabeth never strayed far from her roots, her true conversion came later - in her 30s, forged through suffering and grace.
In 2010, she was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy, a brutal kidney disease that left both of her kidneys failing. Her husband, Kevin, stepped up without hesitation and gave her one of his, ultimately saving her life. Later, the couple faced another heartbreak - the loss of a baby early in pregnancy.
Through it all, Elizabeth leaned on her Catholic faith, finding in prayer the strength to keep standing before the camera, smiling, telling stories that matter.
When she chose to wear her ashes on television last year, it wasn’t about making a statement; it was about honoring God, who had carried her through each valley. It was a quiet “yes,” spoken through courage and humility.
Now 45, Elizabeth continues to be very vocal about leaning on God and her faith during the turbulent times in her life, even attending local Catholic events as a speaker, such as a Young Catholic Professionals’ Executive Speaker Series that she headlined in February 2026.
To the young adults listening that night, she offered a simple but powerful truth: rather than questioning God’s plan, she chose to trust it completely.
This year, she plans to wear her ashes again.
So if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, tune in to KOIN 6 News on Ash Wednesday, and you may witness a small, enduring symbol of faith shining through the evening broadcast.