Zuleyka Rivera
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Zuleyka Rivera at the Red Dress Collection in 2007
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| Born |
Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza October 3, 1987 Cayey, Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress, Model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Title(s) |
Miss Salinas Teen 2002 Miss Salinas Universe 2006 Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 Miss Universe 2006 |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2002 (1st Runner-Up) Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 (Winner) Miss Universe 2006 (Winner) |
| Partner |
José Juan Barea (2010-2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza (born October 3, 1987) is a Puerto Rican actress, TV Host, dancer, model and beauty queen who won the titles of Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 and Miss Universe 2006. She made her debut as a telenovela actress in Mexico's Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate in 2007.
Born in Cayey, she was raised in Salinas with her parents Jerry Rivera and Carmen Mendoza, and two brothers, Jerry, Jr. and Jose Rivera Mendoza. Prior to winning the Miss Puerto Rico title she 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. She is also the first winner from Puerto Rico to have noticeable mixed (African and indigenous) heritage features, different from her four predecessors (Marisol Malaret, Deborah Carthy-Deu, Dayanara Torres, and Denise Quiñones) that have distinctly European features.
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.
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