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Venezuela Patricia Velasquez has transitioned from supermodel to award-winning actress and dedicated humanitarian, utilizing her global platform to advocate for indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career. She also served as the face of Cover Girl for eight years, being their first Latin supermodel to transition into mainstream media, and appeared in a TV commercial for their makeup.
Velasquez walked in fashion shows, starred in editorial spreads, and fronted ads for the brand during her supermodeling career.
UNESCO invited Patricia Velasquez to be a celebrity advocate, and she was appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace (Goodwill Ambassador) in June 2003, in recognition of her actions for the protection of indigenous people in Latin America and safeguarding their cultural heritage.
The United Nations granted Patricia Velasquez the 2009 Women Together Award.
In 2018, the Organization for American States (OAS) appointed Patricia Velasquez as Goodwill Ambassador for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas in Washington, D.C.
Patricia Velasquez received the 2018 Visibility Award from The Human Rights Campaign and has spoken at their events.
Patricia Velasquez was born on January 31, 1971, in Guajira, Venezuela. Her early life was spent in various countries, including France and Mexico, before returning to Venezuela. Her parents, who worked in education, faced financial challenges, prompting Velasquez to contribute to her family’s well-being from a young age. While studying engineering and dance, she was scouted for modeling. Her career took off quickly, becoming a prominent figure in the fashion world, which allowed her to support her family financially.
Velasquez achieved significant recognition in the fashion industry, gracing the covers of esteemed magazines such as Vogue, Bazaar, and Marie Claire. She also walked runways and appeared in campaigns for luxury brands like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Chloe, Cover Girl, and Victoria’s Secret. Her modeling career marked a turning point for Latina representation in high-fashion. Concurrently, she developed a notable acting career, starring in major films like “The Mummy” (1999) and “The Mummy Returns” (2001), where she played Anck-Su-Namun. Her acting credits also include roles in TV series such as “The L Word,” “Arrested Development,” “CSI: Miami,” “Ugly Betty,” and “Rescue Me.” In 2006, she made her stage debut in “School of the Americas” at The Public Theater in New York, produced by Philip Seymour Hoffman. She further expanded her involvement in film as an executive producer for “Cenizas Eternas” (2011) and an associate producer for “Liz in September” (2014), for which she received a ‘Best Actress, Women’s Feature’ award.
Beyond her entertainment career, Velasquez is known for her humanitarian efforts. In 2002, she established the Wayúu Tayá Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving indigenous cultures and improving living conditions for indigenous communities in Latin America, particularly the Wayuu people in Venezuela. Her advocacy led to her appointment as a UNESCO celebrity advocate and a United Nations’ Women Together Award in 2009. The Organization of American States (OAS) appointed her as Goodwill Ambassador for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas in 2018. She is also a published author, with her autobiography “Straight Walk: A Supermodel’s Journey to Finding her Truth” released in 2015. Velasquez continues to act, with recent roles in “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019) and upcoming projects like “No Address” (2025).
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