Biography
Who is Alicia Machado?
Early life and background
Alicia Machado was born on December 6, 1976, in Maracay, Venezuela. Her father owned a toy store and had emigrated from Spain, while her mother's family came from Cuba before the Cuban revolution. She started performing at a very young age, taking up dancing at age four and acting by the time she reached age twelve.
She attended college for a year and a half before deciding to leave her studies. She chose instead to pursue modeling and appearing in television commercials, which eventually led her into the competitive world of beauty pageants.
Pageant career and Miss Universe
Alicia won the Miss Maracay pageant in 1995. She then won the Miss Venezuela pageant representing Yaracuy state before capturing the Miss Universe 1996 crown in Las Vegas. Her victory made her the fourth woman from Venezuela to hold the international title. During her preparation, she faced intense pressure regarding her weight and diet from pageant officials.
After winning the crown, she gained weight, which drew considerable media attention and public scrutiny. She later competed in various other television programs and reality shows, including winning the first season of La casa de los famosos years later.
Acting and television work
In 1998, Alicia secured her first starring telenovela role as the title character in Samantha. She followed this with a small role on the international soap opera Secreto de Amor in 2001. Over the next several years, she appeared in numerous television projects across Mexico, Colombia, and the United States.
She acted in the comedic soap opera Una familia con suerte, which began airing in Mexico in February 2011. She also starred as the protagonist of La Madame in Colombia and later worked as a mentor on the Univision beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Latina 2014, guiding new participants.
Personal life and height
Alicia stands at a height of 171 centimeters. Throughout her life, she has experienced various personal milestones, including becoming a United States citizen in May 2016. She has one daughter and has been open about her health challenges, including undergoing a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2013.
Her life and career have frequently drawn media attention, ranging from her work in entertainment and reality television to her public involvement in political discussions and advocacy campaigns over the years.
Birthday and age
Alicia Machado was born on December 6, 1976, which makes Alicia 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Alicia shares the date with 16 other famous people.
Explore more
