Zuleyka Rivera

Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza was born on October 3, 1987, in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and raised in Salinas. Prior to her international recognition, she won the local pageant for Salinas and was the first runner-up in the Miss Teen Puerto Rico pageant. At 18, Rivera earned the title of Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006, representing Salinas. Her subsequent victory at Miss Universe 2006 marked her as one of the youngest titleholders and the fifth Puerto Rican to achieve this honor. During her reign, she traveled globally, attending events in Japan, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Kazakhstan, India, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, alongside appearances across the United States. Following her tenure, Rivera transitioned into an acting career, with a notable debut in the 2007 telenovela “Dame Chocolate.”

Rivera continued to expand her acting portfolio, taking on antagonist roles in popular telenovelas. In 2010, she appeared in “Alguien Te Mira” as Rocío Lynch and later that year in “Aurora” as Diana del Valle. After a brief pause, she resumed acting in 2012 with a lead role in “Rosario” as Sandra Díaz, and in 2014, she starred in “Cosita linda” as Viviana Robles. Her career highlights also include hosting “La revista de Zuleyka” in 2015 and a guest role in the 2019 series “El Dragón: Return of a Warrior.” In 2017, she gained international exposure by appearing in the music video for “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi. In 2023, she joined the main cast of the reality series “Secretos de las Indomables,” and in 2025, she is expected to be a team captain for “Miss Universe Latina, el reality.”

Beyond her pageant and acting careers, Rivera has engaged in brand ambassador roles. In 2018, she partnered with Eravos, an online diamond jewelry store, launching her own collection. Her past collaborations include working with Huggies, where she tested and promoted new products as a new mother. This progression from beauty queen to actress and brand ambassador demonstrates her versatile professional development.