Mackenzie Bart Bio, Age, Fiancé Ian Lehn, Fox 8 Cleveland, Miss Ohio, Ventriloquism, Height, Salary & 2026 Facts

Mackenzie Bart is the American meteorologist and beauty-pageant titleholder who forecasts the weather for Fox 8 (WJW) in Cleveland, Ohio, and is equally known for her talent as a professional ventriloquist. A former Miss Ohio 2014 and Top 10 Miss America finalist, Bart moved to Cleveland in 2022 after leaving Columbus’s 10TV and has since become one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognizable TV personalities. She was named one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People of 2026 and launched the children’s program Reading with Roxy on the FOX 8 CLE+ streaming app in August 2026. She got engaged to Ian Lehn in Ireland in October 2024.

Quick Facts

In the world of American broadcast meteorology, Mackenzie Bart stands alongside popular weather anchors like Jen Carfagno (The Weather Channel), Stephanie Abrams and Jim Cantore — the latter of whom she worked alongside during her Weather Channel internship. What sets Bart apart is her rare combination of hard-news weather forecasting and live ventriloquism, a skill that helped her win both the Miss Ohio title and a spot in Miss America’s Top 10.

Early Life & Education

Mackenzie Bart grew up in Brockway, Pennsylvania, a small town in rural Jefferson County — just down the road from Punxsutawney, home of the world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Her love of weather began early: she spent endless hours watching The Weather Channel with her grandparents, and the famous weather-predicting groundhog was one of her childhood icons. She was actively involved in the 4-H Club and Rotary Club, and even organized a sign-language club called “Seeing Voices” at her school.

The defining moment of her career choice came after high school, when Bart witnessed the devastation of the EF5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, during a summer training camp trip. The destruction she saw firsthand convinced her that she wanted to be “the voice of safety for others” — and she chose to study weather professionally. Bart enrolled at The Ohio State University (not Ohio University, as some sources incorrectly state), where she majored in Atmospheric Science and was an active member of the university’s Meteorology Club. During college, she completed internships at WPXI in Pittsburgh, 10TV in Columbus and The Weather Channel in Atlanta, where she worked alongside renowned forecasters Jim Cantore and Jen Carfagno.

Career Journey

Miss Ohio, Miss America and America’s Next Top Weatherman (2014–2018)

While still a student at Ohio State, Bart was crowned Miss Ohio 2014 and went on to compete in the Miss America pageant, where she placed in the Top 10 finalists and won the prestigious Talent Award — performing with her ventriloquist puppet, Roxy. Her pageant success opened doors in broadcasting; she appeared on Today’s Show and Good Morning America, and went on to compete on TBS’s America’s Next Top Weatherman, winning the competition.

Fort Myers, 10TV and Hurricane Coverage (2018–2022)

After college, Bart’s first full-time on-air role was at ABC7 in Fort Myers, Florida (WZVN-TV), where she covered tropical systems including Hurricane Irma (2017) and Hurricane Dorian (2019) — some of the most destructive storms to hit the United States in recent years. In 2019, she returned to Columbus, Ohio, as the weekend morning meteorologist at 10TV (WBNS), her alma-mater city. Her coverage of numerous snowstorms and severe-weather outbreaks earned her an Emmy Award from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. After three years, Bart left 10TV on June 3, 2022, announcing her departure on social media.

Fox 8 Cleveland and National Recognition (2022–Present)

Later in 2022, Bart joined Fox 8 (WJW) in Cleveland, Ohio, where she forecasts on the weekday evening newscasts at 5, 7 and 10 p.m. Her coverage includes severe thunderstorm outbreaks, tornadoes and Northeast Ohio’s famous lake-effect snow events. During her time at Fox 8:

• October 2024: Got engaged to Ian Lehn at Dun Chaoin Pier in Ireland
• December 2025: Named one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People of 2026
• 2026: Introduced a new puppet, Raven, in a live segment where viewers submitted name suggestions
• August 2026: Launched Reading with Roxy, a children’s reading show hosted with her puppet Roxy, airing Saturdays at 1 p.m. exclusively on the FOX 8 CLE+ smart-TV streaming app

Fox 8 has been notably supportive of her ventriloquism — a first in her career. “It is, I think, the first station that I’ve worked at where they’ve totally just accepted my ventriloquism,” Bart told Cleveland Magazine. “Before, (people at other stations) were like, ‘Eww, that’s kind of weird. Maybe don’t tell a bunch of people that you do that.'”

Career Stats

• Current station: Fox 8 WJW, Cleveland, Ohio (2022–present) — weekday evenings 5, 7 & 10 p.m.
• Previous stations: 10TV WBNS Columbus (2019–2022, weekend mornings); ABC7 WZVN Fort Myers (2018–2019)
• Awards: Emmy Award (Ohio Valley Chapter); Miss America Talent Award (2014)
• Pageant: Miss Ohio 2014; Miss America Top 10 finalist
• Notable storm coverage: Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Dorian, multiple Ohio Valley severe-weather outbreaks and lake-effect snow events

Personal Life

• Fiancé: Ian Lehn — entrepreneur, sports-car racer and rugby player; they have been together since at least December 2018
• Engagement: Proposed on October 4, 2024, at Dun Chaoin Pier in Ireland while sightseeing; Lehn flew Bart’s mother in for the surprise moment
• Residence: Cleveland, Ohio
• Pet: German Shepherd named Theta
• Family: Parents’ names not publicly disclosed; grew up in Brockway, Pennsylvania with siblings (details kept private)

Relationships and Dating History

Mackenzie Bart has been in a relationship with Ian Lehn since at least late 2018, when the couple first featured each other on social media. Lehn is an entrepreneur, sports-car enthusiast and rugby player. Their relationship became public knowledge in earnest in October 2024, when Lehn proposed at the scenic Dun Chaoin Pier on Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula while the couple was sightseeing. In a romantic touch, Lehn had secretly flown Bart’s mother to Ireland so she could be present for the engagement. Bart announced the news on Instagram with the caption: “Couldn’t be more excited to share this ‘breaking news’… We’re engaged!” As of 2026, no wedding date has been publicly announced. Bart has kept much of her personal life private throughout her career, choosing to share only milestones rather than day-to-day details.

Controversies

Mackenzie Bart’s career has been remarkably controversy-free. Her public profile has been defined by positive stories — pageant wins, Emmy recognition, her engagement and her ventriloquism — rather than scandals. The only notable media chatter she has addressed is the repeated public confusion about her alma mater: many online sources incorrectly list Ohio University (in Athens, Ohio) instead of her actual school, The Ohio State University (in Columbus). Bart has clarified the distinction in interviews and on her official website. Additionally, when she left 10TV in 2022, speculation swirled about her reasons for departing — but she confirmed it was simply a career move to a larger market (Cleveland) and has never publicly cited any workplace conflicts.

Awards & Achievements

• Emmy Award: Ohio Valley Chapter of NATAS — for severe-weather coverage at 10TV
• Miss Ohio 2014: Won the state title and competed at Miss America
• Miss America Top 10: Placed in the Top 10 finalists and won the Talent Award (ventriloquism with Roxy)
• America’s Next Top Weatherman: Winner of the TBS competition series
• Cleveland Magazine Most Interesting People 2026: Named in the December 2025 issue
• FOX 8 CLE+ show: Launched Reading with Roxy in August 2026 — first ventriloquist-led children’s show on the platform

Physical Statistics

• Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
• Weight: Approximately 125 lb (57 kg)
• Hair Color: Blonde
• Eye Color: Blue
• Build: Slim and athletic — a fitness enthusiast who stays active with her German Shepherd, Theta

Quotes

“Fox 8 is, I think, the first station that I’ve worked at where they’ve totally just accepted my ventriloquism.”

Mackenzie Bart, Cleveland Magazine (December 2025)

“Couldn’t be more excited to share this ‘breaking news’… We’re engaged!”

Mackenzie Bart on her engagement to Ian Lehn, Instagram (October 2024)

Favorites

• Favorite City: Cleveland, Ohio — her home since 2022
• Favorite Weather Event: Lake-effect snow — a signature of Northeast Ohio forecasting
• Favorite Childhood Memory: Watching The Weather Channel with her grandparents and visiting Punxsutawney Phil
• Favorite Hobby: Ventriloquism — performing with puppets Roxy and Raven at schools and events
• Favorite Travel Destination: Ireland — where she got engaged in 2024

Earnings

Salary: estimated $80,000–$120,000 annually. This range is consistent with average meteorologist salaries in Ohio and comparable mid-size TV markets. Bart supplements her income with paid speaking engagements, school appearances featuring her ventriloquism, and work with Lessonly by Seismic (a sales-training platform), according to her professional profiles. Her net worth is estimated at $1 million–$2 million.

• Fox 8 WJW salary: Estimated $80,000–$120,000 per year (weekday evening anchor)
• Previous earnings: 10TV WBNS (2019–2022); ABC7 Fort Myers (2018–2019)
• Additional income: Ventriloquism performances at schools and events; brand partnerships; Lessonly by Seismic collaboration
• Pageant earnings: Miss America Talent Award scholarship

Interesting Facts

• She grew up just down the road from Punxsutawney Phil — the famous weather-predicting groundhog who inspired her love of forecasting.
• She is a trained ventriloquist who has performed since childhood — her puppet Roxy won her the Miss America Talent Award.
• She was a member of the 4-H Club and organized a sign-language club called “Seeing Voices” in high school.
• She interned at The Weather Channel in Atlanta, working alongside Jim Cantore and Jen Carfagno.
• Her engagement happened at Dun Chaoin Pier in Ireland — and her fiancé secretly flew her mother in for the moment.
• She hosts Reading with Roxy on FOX 8 CLE+ — a children’s reading show where her puppet Roxy is the co-star.

Did You Know Already?

• Did you know Mackenzie Bart is a professional ventriloquist who won the Miss America Talent Award performing with her puppet Roxy?
• Did you know she grew up near Punxsutawney Phil — the famous groundhog — which inspired her weather career?
• Did you know she won TBS’s America’s Next Top Weatherman competition?
• Did you know she graduated from The Ohio State University (not Ohio University, as many sources wrongly claim)?
• Did you know her fiancé secretly flew her mother to Ireland for their engagement at Dun Chaoin Pier in October 2024?

Social Media Links

• X (Twitter): @MackenzieBart
• Instagram: @mackenziebart
• Website: mackenziebart.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mackenzie Bart’s journey — from a small-town Pennsylvania girl enchanted by Punxsutawney Phil, to Miss Ohio and a Miss America Top 10 finalist, to an Emmy-winning meteorologist covering hurricanes in Florida and snowstorms in Ohio — is a story of following one’s passion with purpose. At 34, she is engaged to the love of her life, forecasting for one of Cleveland’s most-watched newscasts, named one of the city’s Most Interesting People, and sharing her unique ventriloquism talent with a new generation through Reading with Roxy. If you found this biography helpful, please share it with fellow Fox 8 and weather-fan followers!