Shanelle Kaul was born on December 14, 1990, in Sri Lanka, to parents who fled their homelands due to civil unrest and eventually settled in Toronto, Canada, after the Gulf War. Growing up immersed in stories of resilience and underrepresentation fueled her passion for journalism. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism and launched her career at Global Toronto’s assignment desk in 2011.

Kaul steadily climbed through Canadian broadcasting networks — reporting and anchoring at Global Regina, CTV News Edmonton, and CP24, where she spent four years covering international breaking news. She also anchored CTV News Channel’s national programs, including Your Morning and The Social. In 2023, she joined CBS in a first-of-its-kind correspondent role spanning the CBS television network, CBS News Radio, and Newspath. 

She currently hosts The Uplift on CBS 24/7 and Paramount+ in addition to contributing to various CBS News programs, including CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, CBS Saturday Morning, and CBS Weekend News. Beyond her TV career, Kaul is married to her longtime partner, Austin, and is an active public speaker, board member of the New York Newswomen’s Club, and a vocal advocate for South Asian and immigrant representation in media.