Biography
Who is Dayana Mendoza?
Early life and background
Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Uribe was born on June 1, 1986, in Caracas, Venezuela, to parents Willy Mendoza and María Moncada. She grew up with origins connected to the states of Táchira and Aragua. During her early years in Venezuela, she experienced a kidnapping incident, which she later noted helped her remain composed under pressure.
In 2001, she participated in the Elite Model Look International held in Nice, France, finishing as a top fifteen semifinalist. Following this achievement, she signed a contract with Elite Model Management and began her path in the professional modeling industry.
Pageantry success
Dayana Mendoza entered the national spotlight by competing against twenty-seven other candidates to win the title of Miss Venezuela on September 13, 2007. Her victory marked only the second time a representative from the Amazonas state won the crown, following Carolina Izsak in 1991.
She advanced to the international stage and was crowned Miss Universe 2008 at a ceremony in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on July 13, 2008. Her win represented the first Venezuelan victory in the competition since Alicia Machado won in 1996. Throughout her reign, she traveled extensively around the world to support humanitarian causes and educational initiatives regarding HIV and AIDS before crowning her successor, Stefanía Fernández, in August 2009.
Modeling and entertainment career
Following her time as Miss Universe, Dayana worked internationally with prominent fashion houses and brands such as Max Mara, Costume National, Versace, and Roberto Cavalli across cities like New York, Milan, and Paris. She transitioned into television and film by studying acting at the New York Film Academy. In 2009, she starred in the short film Sweet Misery and worked as a presenter on the Venezuelan morning show Portadas.
She hosted the E! Entertainment Latin America talk show Relaxed in 2010 and appeared in the music video for the song Bla Bla Bla. Her television credits also include competing on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012, where she finished in sixth place. Later in her career, she directed and produced the short film Honey, which earned recognition as a semifinalist at the Hollywood International Film Festival.
Personal life and marriages
Dayana Mendoza is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian. In December 2013, she married businessman Michael Pagano during a three-day celebration in Altos de Chavón in the Dominican Republic, wearing a gown designed by Ángel Sánchez. The couple welcomed their daughter, Eva Mendoza Pagano, in October 2015 before finalizing their separation in September 2016.
In January 2025, she announced her engagement to Colombian pastor Carlos Uribe through social media, and the couple married in March of that same year. She continues to reside and work across various international locations while maintaining her career in film production and modeling.
Birthday and age
Dayana Mendoza was born on June 1, 1986, which makes Dayana 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Dayana shares the date with 40 other famous people.
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