MAYRA VERONICA, ACTRESS, SINGER, TV PERSONALITY.

Mayra Verónica (born Mayra Verónica Aruca Rodríguez August 20, 1980) is an American model and singer most famous for appearances on Spanish-language television. Verónica’s role on Univision’s Don Francisco Presenta brought her to the attention of FHM magazine’s US edition.

After appearing in FHM she was included in its 2004 calendar and went on to do additional magazine work. She made appearances on many Spanish language television shows, as well as appearing in music videos and television commercials.

She is noted for being a spokeswoman for USO.

Mayra Verónica was born in Havana, Cuba, where her father was a member of Cuba’s big band, Los Dada. In 1984, she came to the US with her mother, Mayra Rodriguez, leaving behind the rest of her family including her father, Arturo Aruca, and sister Giselle Guzman. Her father came a year later and reunited with Veronica and her mother, while her sister was unable to meet them until thirteen years later. Mayra grew up with little money and food was sometimes scarce.

A gifted student, Verónica made her way through ballet school by befriending other girls (other students from her school who could afford the training), while surviving difficult financial circumstances at home. Her body began maturing during her middle school years, causing her to no longer be able to do ballet. Her first boyfriend, at the age of 15, was an artist of the same age who often painted her nude or semi-nude.

Career.
Pageants and modeling.

She began as a correspondent, but was promoted to celebrity hostess for the show. She interviewed celebrities like Donald Trump, Oscar de la Renta, Hugh Hefner, and Dennis Rodman. Throughout, Verónica traveled to New York to continue acting training at the Lee Strasberg Institute to fine tune her craft, until the station (owned by Media One) was bought by AT&T Corporation and subsequently closed.

Verónica landed a made-for-TV movie called The Suitor and did commercial campaigns for Nike, L’Oréal, and Coca Cola. Univision announcing a new show hosted by Don Francisco. They wanted Verónica to be their model and co-host, but with one catch. Due to her ample curves, her last appearance on screen for the day would entail her backside presented before turning around to face the camera, which she gladly agreed. Once the show aired, the model with the great backside became the talk of Latinos everywhere, so much so the American press became interested.

Cover girl.

FHM, the top men’s magazine of the time, contacted Veronica’s publicist to ask for a feature spread on their magazine. Veronica agreed and after mail requesting her return, she went on to appear on the cover of the FHM exclusive collection book, which included top sex symbols of the decade such as Pamela Anderson, Eva Longoria, and Carmen Electra. From 2004-2010 Mayra Verónica made FHM’s “Sexiest Women In The World” list 6 years in a row. She was featured on other covers for FHM, Maxim, Edge, GQ, Cosmo, Shape and over 100 other national and international covers. Her popularity on such covers made her website at the time one of the top requested websites with more than 4 million hits biweekly. With her popularity came email from soldiers stationed in Iraq asking for her posters and by now famous calendars. Veronica’s management sent a care package of approximately 5000 posters. Shortly, the military named her favorite pin-up girl for the US Marines and the USO asked her to tour with the troops.

USO tour.

The USO tour became a special Thanksgiving tour with Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James Cartwright, actor Wilmer Valderrama, comedian Russell Peters, traveling to six countries in six days: Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Turkey, Africa, and Greenland. The troops’ response was overwhelming and although Verónica had decided not to do any more calendars, she changed her mind and decided to do one in 2008 dedicating proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Music.Vengo Con To.

Europe did not seem to mind and Mayra signed a deal with a German label for the European release of the album. The album’s popularity landed Verónica a deal with Universal Motown, which put out a second single from the album titled “Mamma Mia” which also did very well on radio.

A third single, “Es Tan Dificil Olvidarte”, dedicated to the fallen troops, put Verónica in the top 10 on the pop contemporary charts. Verónica continued her work with the troops by visiting the wounded at camp Lejeune.

Mayra Verónica, singer & international model, is set to make lasting impressions in the UK this fall with her pumped-up, carnival pop tinged single “Mama Mia.” The track, a debut release for the UK, has already enjoyed #1 chart success in the US Hot Dance / Club Billboard Charts, will be available here digitally via Syco (Sony Music) on September 29, 2013. The Cuban-American’s career has seen her grace the cover’s of the likes of FHM, Shape & Maxim along with various high-profile national ad campaigns with L’Oreal, Coca Cola & Nike.

In 2012 Mayra Verónica signed a exclusive worldwide co-publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis US.

In 2013 Mayra Verónica signed with Simon Cowell’s label Syco Music (Sony) Music. Currently Mayra Verónica’s debut EP “Mama Mia” on Syco Music under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK. Founded by Simon Cowell in 2002, Syco Music is home to such multi-platinum recording artists as One Direction, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Little Mix and has been responsible for dozens of number one hits in both the UK and USA pop charts. In 2010 it became a joint venture with Sony Music to focus on the production of music, television, film and digital content.

Ultra Music.

Adding to the phenomenal international success of Mayra Veronica’s mega-hit single, “Mama Mia”, including a number one Billboard Dance chart triumph, Ultra Music, in a joint venture with Syco Music, has picked up the Dance track for exclusive distribution rights, within the territories of the United States and Canada. Initially introduced as “Ay Mama Mia,” the original Spanish version became an international sensation and caught the attention of music industry executive/innovator Simon Cowell, whose Syco Music-Sony label retained exclusive international distribution rights for the single outside of the United States and Canada where the song subsequently earned top 20 chart results in France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. The updated Ultra Music version of “Mama Mia”, will feature both English and Spanish lyrics. Co-written by Mayra Veronica, the catchy tune meshes vintage tropical sounds with an infectious electronic dance rhythm. The original Spanish video has already reached over 12 million views on YouTube with club DJ luminaries such as Axwell, Chuckie (DJ), Laidback Luke, John Dahlback and Thomas Gold treating their fans to Mayra’s fresh music.

“Mama Mia” is the most recent chart success for Mayra Veronica. The Cuban-American singer/songwriter, who presently holds an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis, first gained chart notoriety with “If You Wanna Fly”, which penetrated five different Billboard charts, including the coveted, Billboard Digital Sales Chart. Her second single, “Freak Like Me” earned her a number three position on the Billboard Dance Chart, and garnered slots on numerous international Billboard charts. The new video for “Mama Mia” is set to be launched on January 30 on Ultra Music’s YouTube Channel.

Following this, The “Mama Mia” (Remixes) EP, which showcases versions orchestrated by Dave Aude, Chocolate Puma, Robbie Rivera, Sick Individuals, Genairo Nvilla and Razor N’ Guido. Mayra Veronica will kick off a world tour in support of “Mama Mia” in the spring, with Soneros de Verdad and The Sons of the Buena Vista Social Club sharing the bill.

IDMA Awards.

In 2014 Mayra Veronica’s #1 Billboard Dance song “Mama Mia” was nominated for ‘”Best Latin Dance Song of The Year” at the 29th Annual International Dance Music Awards (IDMA). In this category Mayra was up against Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull Feat. Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Marc Anthony.

Discography.

2007: Vengo Con To’
2010: Saint Nor Sinner
2013: Mama Mia

Singles.

Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Airplay Heatseeker Songs Dance/Electronic Digital Songs
2010 “If You Wanna Fly” 9 11 21 5 Saint Nor Sinner
2011 “Freak Like Me” 3 15 – 25
2013 “Ay Mama Mia” 1 – – –

2010 If You Wanna Fly (The Remixes)
2011 Freak Like Me (The Remixes)
2011 Freak Like Me (Manuel De La Mare Remixes & Eddie Amador Dub)
2013 Ay Mama Mia (The Remixes)
2013 Ay Mama Mia (The Remixes Dubs)
2013 Mama Mia
2013 Mama Mia (The Remixes)

Agencies/Various/Wiki/InternetPhotos/YouTube/Arnoldo Varona/thecubanhistory.com
THE CUBAN HISTORY, HOLLYWOOD.

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