Dayanara Torres
Dayanara Torres Delgado (born October 28, 1974 in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican model, singer, and actres. She was the third Puerto Rican to be crowned Miss Universe in 1993.
Biography
Childhood and Youth
Dayanara Torres was born October 28, 1974 in the middle of a humble family in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. She has an older brother and a younger sister. As a child, she enjoyed dancing, swimming, and horseback riding, some of which she still practices today. She finished her studies in Colegio Santa Rosa in Bayamón, Puerto Rico with the intention of going to college to become an orthodoncist.
Approached by Fame
When she was 17, she was approached while walking by her hometown and was invited to represent Toa Alta in the annual Miss Puerto Rico Pageant. Even though she had little experience in modeling she won it and went to represent Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe Pageant.
The pageant was celebrated in Mexico City in May 21, 1993 and Torres ended up winning the crown much to her surprise. Torres' victory in the pageant caused some controversy because it was claimed she was still a minor. However, it is claimed that Torres turned 18 several months before the contest. Despite all this, she was received in Puerto Rico with a massive parade.
During and after her reign, she became an ambassador of UNICEF traveling through Asia and Latin America in support of the organization. She even created the Dayanara Torres Foundation which provided scholarships to poor students in Puerto Rico and the Philippines. In 1994 she went to Manila to crown the new Miss Universe, and even sang a duet with Peabo Bryson during the ceremony.
Dayanara in Philippines
After the pageant, she received offers to host two shows in Philippines so she decided to stay. She lived there for four years becoming a huge celebrity in the country, even starring in more than 10 movies during that time, including a film with Filipino-Puerto Rican actor and singer Gary Valenciano called "Hataw Na." During that time, she also filmed Linda Sara, a Puerto Rican film directed by Jacobo Morales where she was paired with fellow Puerto Rican singer, Chayanne. The film was released in 1994.
During her time in Philippines, she had a relationship with Filipino cinema actor Aga Muhlach (he is now married to Charlene Gonzalez, Miss Philippines-Universe 1994). Torres also starred alongside Muhlach in her most famous Filipino film to date: Basta't Kasama Kita, a modern, Philippine take on the classic American film Roman Holiday. She also learned Tagalog, the main language of the country.
Return to Puerto Rico
She returned to Puerto Rico in 1998 and released her first album (and the only, as of now) called Antifaz. It reached the top of the Billboard charts through Latin America and the Philippines. She also starred in several theatre productions in the island. That same year, a Dayanara doll was released and sold out in the island and in the Philippines.
On 2000 she met fellow Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony and got married in May 10. During this time, Torres made retired from the public scenery and dedicated to his family. They had two sons together, Cristian (b. 2001) and Ryan (b. 2003). In 2002, the couple announced a separation, but reconciled, renewing their vows in Puerto Rico in December of that year in a massive ceremony. However, in June 2004 the couple finally divorced. Less than a week later, Anthony married the actress and singer Jennifer Lopez.
On September 1 of the same year, she debuted in an American soap opera, playing a small role in The Young and the Restless. The soap's management was impressed enough to express their desire to have her in further episodes.