Zuleyka Rivera
Zuleyka Rivera | |
---|---|
Born | Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza October 3, 1987 |
Occupations |
|
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Children | 1 |
Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Title | Miss Salinas Teen 2002 Miss Salinas Universe 2006 Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 Miss Universe 2006 |
Years active | 2006–present |
Hair color | Brown |
Eye color | Brown |
Major competition(s) | Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2002 (1st Runner-up) Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 (Winner) Miss Universe 2006 (Winner) |
Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza (born October 3, 1987) is a Puerto Rican actress, tv host, dancer, model, and beauty queen who won Miss Universe 2006 in Los Angeles. She was previously crowned Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006. She made her debut as a telenovela actress in Mexico's Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate in 2007, which was followed by several other soap opera roles. In 2017 she appeared in the music video for "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi.[1]
Early life
Born in Cayey, she was raised in Salinas by her parents Jerry Rivera and Carmen Mendoza, along with her two brothers, Jerry, Jr. and Jose Rivera Mendoza. Prior to winning the Miss Puerto Rico title, she first won the local pageant for her hometown of Salinas. She had also placed as the first runner-up in the Miss Teen Puerto Rico pageant. Only eighteen years of age when she was crowned Miss Universe, Rivera is one of the youngest women to win the title.
Pageantry
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006
Rivera represented her hometown of Salinas municipality at Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006, held on November 10, 2005, where she was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder and Miss Universe 2005 1st Runner-Up Cynthia Olavarría. Rivera is also the second woman with noticeably mixed features to win Miss Puerto Rico Universe after Alba Reyes in 2004.
Miss Universe 2006
Zuleyka Rivera represented Puerto Rico in the
Later that evening, Rivera fainted briefly during a press appearance. The incident was reportedly attributed to heat exhaustion (from the stage lights) coupled with the weight of the heavy, chained dress she was wearing.[2]
Rivera was the fifth Puerto Rican to win the title,
Rivera's win came only five years after
At the Miss Universe 2007 pageant she passed her crown to Riyo Mori of Japan in Mexico City, Mexico on May 28, 2007.[4] Her Miss Universe's reign with only 10 months is one of the shortest reign in the history of the contest.[5]
Reign
After being crowned on July 23, 2006, in Los Angeles, Zuleyka was interviewed by many news teams in Los Angeles and when she arrived at her new home in New York.
From the end of July until early August, Zuleyka traveled to Japan where she presented the Five Star Diamond Award to the
As of April 2007, Zuleyka has traveled to the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Kazakhstan, India, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Indonesia, in addition to numerous trips around the United States.
On April 1, 2007, Rivera appeared at
She passed on her crown to Japan's Riyo Mori at the Miss Universe 2007 pageant, which was held in Mexico City, Mexico on May 28, 2007.
Acting career
After finishing her reign as
After a brief hiatus due to her pregnancy, Rivera returned to acting in 2012, with a lead role in
Rivera also had a small role on the film
Personal life
From late 2010 to 2013, Rivera dated Dallas Mavericks point guard J. J. Barea.[13] In July 2011, the couple announced they were expecting their first child together.[14] Rivera gave birth to her son Sebastián José Barea Rivera in Minnesota on February 18, 2012. Barea was present during the birth.[15]
During early 2013, there was much speculation that the relationship between Rivera and Barea had ended. However, she assured on an interview that they were still together. On April 18, 2013, Barea released a statement confirming that the relationship was over. Rivera responded with a statement of her own alleging "false information" on Barea's statement. On her statement, Rivera says that "ever since I began filming the telenovela Rosario, there weren't two consecutive weeks where I didn't travel to Minnesota, a place I considered my home, along with the father of my child." She added that she still has the satisfaction "as a woman and mother, that I gave all of me in exchange for our happiness. But this is a labor of two. Life goes on and I keep on going with my head held high."[16]
In 2018, Rivera became a brand ambassador for Eravos.[17]
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Qué despelote! la película
|
Herself / Receptionist | Cameo appearance |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Dame Chocolate | Betsy Marvel | |
Beyaz Show | Herself | 1 episode | |
2010 | Minute to Win It | Herself | Episode: "Last Beauty Standing" |
Aurora
|
Diana del Valle | ||
Alguien te mira
|
Rocío Lynch | 20 episodes | |
2013 | Rosario
|
Sandra Díaz | |
2014 | Cosita linda | Viviana Robles | |
2015 | La revista de Zuleyka | Herself | Host[18] |
2019 | El Dragón: Return of a Warrior | Asya | Guest role |
2023–present | Secretos de las Indomables
|
Herself | Main cast[19] |
Music videos
Year | Artist | Title |
---|---|---|
2017[20] | Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee[20] | "Despacito"[20] |
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- History of women in Puerto Rico
- Miss Universe 2006
- Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006
References
- ^ Wallace, Joan (January 14, 2017). "Luis Fonsi New Song: Singer Teams Up With Daddy Yankee For Catchy Tune 'Despacito'". latintimes.com. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ "Miss Universe: 'Why I Fainted'". CBS News. Associated Press. July 23, 2006. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
- ^ Fernandez, Celia (December 9, 2019). "Photos show how the winning gowns from the Miss Universe pageant have changed through the years". Insider. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ Watson, Julie (May 28, 2007). "Miss Japan crowned Miss Universe 2007". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
- ^ "The strongest candidates who are already ready for the Miss Universe 2021". marketresearchtelecast.com. August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ "Zuleyka Rivera despreocupada con su peso". Primera Hora. March 14, 2007.
- ^ "Zuleyka Rivera cumple su sueño actoral". Primera Hora. August 13, 2010.
- ^ Vargas, Patricia (December 1, 2010). "Soy insaciable". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ Vargas, Patricia (June 10, 2011). "En su etapa más feliz". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ "Zuleyka Rivera: plena como madre y actriz". Primera Hora (Puerto Rico). August 3, 2012.
- ^ Vargas, Patricia (March 21, 2013). "Zuleyka Rivera será la mala de la novela". El Nuevo Día.
- ^ "Zuleyka Rivera volverá a ser la mala de la novela". Primera Hora. July 21, 2012.
- ^ J.J. Barea dating Miss Universe 2006 from ESPN 30 March 2011
- ^ Baby due for J.J. Barea and his Miss Universe girlfriend from USA Today 21 July 2011
- ^ Hernández Mercado, Damaris (February 18, 2012). "Zuleyka Rivera da a luz a Sebastián José". El Nuevo Día.
- ^ "Zuleyka y Barea terminaron su relación". El Nuevo Día. April 18, 2013.
- ^ "Zuleyka Rivera es embajadora de línea de diamantes". Metro. May 10, 2018.
- ^ Castro, Nohelia. "Zuleyka Rivera "triste" por la cancelación de su programa en Unimás". peopleenespanol.com (in Spanish). People en Español. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ "Canela.TV unveils all-star cast for reality series 'Secretos de las Indomables'". HOLA. May 3, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Luis Fonsi y Zuleyka Rivera bailan bien "Despacito"". primerahora.com (in Spanish). January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.