She’s a former NFL cheerleader, a criminal defense attorney, and now a rising star at Fox News — meet Emily Compagno, the legal eagle who made headlines in heels.

You may know Emily Compagno as one of the sharp-tongued co-hosts on Fox News’ midday talk show Outnumbered — but there’s a lot more to this conservative firebrand than courtroom commentary and political debates.

The 45-year-old TV personality, who’s been called “the total package” by fans, has built a résumé that stretches from NFL sidelines to the halls of federal government — with a surprise Italian wedding thrown in for good measure.
Source: Instagram/@realemilycompagno

Early Life, Military Roots & Academic Grit

Born on November 9, 1979, at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in East Oakland, California, Emily Rose Compagno’s life started with a nod to service — her birthplace hinting at a patriotic thread that would run throughout her career.

She graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Political Science and was awarded the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps’ Cadet of the Quarter Award — not exactly your average sorority girl résumé.

From there, she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006 — an Ivy-level climb that would eventually land her in the courtroom.

From the Courtroom to the NFL Sidelines

While working as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco, Compagno did something few legal professionals would dare: she moonlighted as a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders.
Source: Instagram/@realemilycompagno
Not content with just shaking pom-poms, Emily quickly rose to become captain of the Raiderettes and was later selected as one of just four NFL cheerleaders to represent the league on international tours. Her work even brought her to U.S. military bases across Iraq and Kuwait — a blend of glamour and grit rarely seen in political media circles.

Climbing the Fox News Ladder

In 2018, Compagno made her move to Fox News, first as a legal analyst and contributor, where her legal background and polished TV presence made her an instant standout.

She appeared on The Five, regularly popped up on Gutfeld!, and in 2020, hosted the true crime series Crimes That Changed America, which ran for two seasons.

Later that same year, she officially joined Outnumbered as one of its permanent co-hosts, sitting alongside fellow conservatives Kayleigh McEnany and Harris Faulkner.

Source: Instagram/@realemilycompagno
When she’s not debating hot-button issues, she also covers sports — having reported on PAC-12 events and hosted Fanspeak segments featuring professional athletes and fandom culture.

Romance, Rumors & Reinvention

Emily Compagno once had what seemed like a real-life rom-com romance. In 2017, she quietly tied the knot with real estate agent Pete Riley, whom she had first met as a teenager and reconnected with years later on a Seattle sidewalk.

The pair exchanged vows on September 13, 2017, in an ultra-private elopement at the stunning Hotel Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy — no guests, just the bride, the groom, and two photographers overlooking the Amalfi Coast.

But despite the fairy-tale setting, the relationship eventually ran its course. While the couple kept their life out of the tabloids, reports have since confirmed that Compagno and Riley divorced, with the timeline and details remaining private.
Source: Instagram/@realemilycompagno
As of August 2024, Compagno reportedly became engaged to a new partner, though she has kept his identity under wraps. Fans online have speculated, but the Fox News host has remained tight-lipped — true to her reputation for balancing on-air candor with off-air privacy.

Brains, Beauty, and a Bit of Mystery

Whether she’s sparring with liberal pundits, breaking down legal rulings, or reliving murder cases on her true crime show, Emily Compagno has established herself as one of Fox News’ most versatile stars.

She’s got the courtroom credentials, the cheerleader charm, and the kind of polished poise that keeps viewers tuning in — and guessing what she’ll do next.

From the NFL field to cable news fame, Emily Compagno is redefining what it means to be a woman in conservative media — with stilettos firmly planted and legal briefs in hand.