Alicia Machado

Yoseph Alicia Machado Fajardo (born December 6, 1976 in Maracay) is an actress, singer and the fourth woman from Venezuela to capture the Miss Universe crown.

Pageant career

Machado won the 1995 Miss Venezuela pageant entering Yaracuy and then the Miss Universe 1996 crown in Las Vegas. The runner-up,Jacqueline Aguilera, also won the Miss World 1995 crown, marking the second time that two Venezuelans from the same pageant won two world titles. Machado's reign came as Donald Trump took ownership of the Miss Universe pageant.

During her reign as Miss Universe, Machado made headlines when it was reported that she gained too much weight and the Miss Universe Organization was considering replacing her with her runner-up, Taryn Mansell of Aruba. In the end, Machado managed to shed some of the weight and retained her title. Donald Trump, however, was less magnanimous. While calling in live on the Howard Stern radio show to promote the 1997 Miss Universe pageant, he called her an "eating machine," which earned her more international fame.

[edit]Acting and modeling

In 1998, Alicia made her debut on the popular Venezuelan soap opera Samantha in the titular role. Following the success of Samantha she was called to start in Infierno en el Paraiso, another successful soap opera that made her a well known actress. In 2001, she had a small role on the international successful soap opera Secreto de Amor. During 2004–2005, she pursued a career as a TV commercial model with particular success in promoting a dieting product. In 2005, Machado appeared on a Spanish reality show called La Granja de los famosos("The Farm") and caused scandal when she was filmed having sex with another show participant. After the film and photos became public, her then-fiance, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim' right fielder Bobby Abreu, broke off their engagement.^[1]

On February 19, 2006, Machado debuted on a Mexican reality show named Cantando Por Un Sueño ("Singing For A Dream"), a program in the line of the previous Bailando Por Un Sueño ("Dancing For A Dream"), in which the winner has the chance for a dream to come true. The show is very similar to Dancing with the Stars (U.S.) and ¡Más que baile! (formerly titled ¡Mira Quién Baila!) ("Look Who's Dancing!") (Spain).

Machado appeared in (and on the cover of) the February 2006 issue of Playboy magazine's Mexican edition, thus becoming the only Miss Universe to pose nude for Playboy.^[2] She dedicated her photographs to Donald Trump and Shane Filan (former dream lover).

One of her movies was titled I love Miami, sharing credits with Ofelia Medina.

On January 22, 2010, Alicia Machado revealed her fingerprints on Paseo de las Luminarias, in Mexico City, in recognition of her artistic career in Mexico.

On November 24, 2010, BBC Mundo confirmed that Alicia Machado had to close her Twitter account after writing a tweet that called for "peace between the Chinas", referring to North and South Korea.^[3] Her gaffe unleashed a rush of insulting posts, prompting her to go offline. "I now have a lot of psychopaths on the account and it's best I start another one, kisses," she signed off, according to Venezuelan media. ^[4]

[edit]Personal life

She currently lives in Mexico City. On June 25, 2008, Alicia gave birth to her daughter, Dinorah Valentina, with then boyfriend, Mexican businessman Rafael Hernandez Linares.^{[citation needed]}

[edit]Filmography

[edit]Soap operas

• 2009: Hasta Que El Dinero Nos Separe (Until Money do us part)
• 2009: Atrevete a Soñar (Dare to dream)
• 2007: Amor sin maquillaje (Love without Makeup)
• 2002: Mambo y Canela (Mambo& Cinamon)
• 2001: Secreto de Amor (Secret Love)
• 1999: Infierno en el paraíso (Hell in Paradise)
• 1998: Samantha

[edit]TV series

• 2009: Los simuladores (The Pretenders)
• 2007: El Pantera (The Panther)
• 2000: Estamos Unidos
• 1997: The Nanny

[edit]Movies

• 2007: I love Miami
• 2006: Cansada de besar sapos (Tired of kissing toads)

[edit]Theater

• 2010: Hairspray
• 2009: Un amante a la medida

[edit]Awards

[edit]ACE

Win:

• 1998 - Best New Actress in Samantha

[edit]Midia

• 1998 - Best New Actress in Samantha (Won)
• 1998 - It's the best history (Samantha del liano) (Won)

[edit]Paseo de las Luminarias

• 2010: In recognition of his artistic career in Mexico

[edit]

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