Biography
Never met Marianela? Duck!
Born of two professional tango dancers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marianela moved to the United States at the age of 5, and took her new country by storm! Soon after her arrival in Washington D.C., at the age of 13, she fell in love with Ballet, and was performing solos in a local dance company and spending most of her time on her toes. Her part time passion unearthed a real gift-she was quick on her feet. Literally.
Marianela graduated from the University of Maryland (Dean's Scholar, member of the dance team, PR director for the International House-speaking 4 languages helped) then got hired to help produce a live, bilingual health show for MHZ Networks in Falls Church, VA. Relentlessly trying to maintain a 4.0 average while keeping up with her demanding dance schedule proved to be a challenging time for her, so naturally she took on another task, as the host and producer of her own music video show, "MHZ Hot." She has not stopped talking since-and for good reason. The show was picked up nationally in 2002 by Dish Network, then nominated by Billboard as one of the best Latin-Pop video shows in the nation.
Despite being robbed of the statuette, Marianela did what you're supposed to do when you're gorgeous, talented and completely broke: she headed for Hollywood. Though prepared to spend years paying her dues, it took just 3 months for Marianela to make waves. By the fall, she booked a radio show on KLSX; a principal role on the sitcom "Half & Half"; and the VJ slot on FUSE TV.
Back on the east coast at Fuse Marianela hosted Daily Download and interviewed the biggest names in the entertainment business: 50 Cent, Metallica, Eminem, The Cure, Usher, Beyonce, Jeremy Piven, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, to name a few. Her spontaneous, quick wit and her broad knowledge of pop culture made the set a fun, crazy, and unpredictable place to be. Getting slobbered by Rob Schneider, accosted by Eminem and belly bumped by Bone Crusher, really put her "Bucket List" in perspective. So after a 4 year run of a live music video show, she decided to tap into her inner tomboy.
Marianela found herself parlaying her love and knowledge of sports into multiple gigs on ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and most recently into the so-called "princess of poker" on NBC's "Poker After Dark." All those college poker nights had really paid off!
So it came as no surprise when NBC rolled the dice on having Marianela cover the Grammy's for Access Hollywood on NBC, CNN made her a featured panelist on Showbiz Tonight, and MTV gave her a co-host gig on MTV's Top Pop Group opposite Mario Lopez. She also recently appeared as a principal on the long-running prime-time drama, ER, much to the delight of her doctor-filled family, who she has finally made proud!
This Argentine beauty is the host of VH1's new show "Dance Cam Slam," a weekly dance off for those not scared to "shake what their mama gave them" in the comfort of their own home via their web cams for a chance to win $5,000 big ones! Marianela is also flossing her sporty side as the face of ESPN's "Road Trip" show, where she heads to best college football games in the land to bring you a behind the scenes look at some of the biggest rivalries in all of college sports.
Marianela is taking an even more assertive posture in her career, positioning herself not just as the beautiful on-air talent but also as producer and creator of the shows she appears in. Worst of all in this non-stop horror show, and what makes her virtually unemployable, is that she's known as a really nice person. Seriously: good girl warmth, mixed with fiery Latin charm, what could be better? Truth is, everybody loves her.
