Biography
Dayanara Torres was born into a poor yet tightly connected family in the small town of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. During her senior year of high school, two scouts from the Miss Puerto Rico pageant discovered her. Although she never imagined competing in pageants she had admired growing up, she followed their advice and represented her town. To her astonishment, Dayanara not only won the Miss Puerto Rico title but, after months of preparation, also claimed the Miss Universe crown in 1993, becoming the youngest winner at just 18. Her victory made her a national icon in Puerto Rico and launched her into international fame.
As an international UNICEF ambassador, Dayanara traveled worldwide representing the organization even after her reign ended.
After completing her year as Miss Universe and passing the crown to her successor in Manila, Torres quickly became a sensation in the Philippines. She hosted the popular shows "Eazy Dancing" and the enduring variety program "ASAP." Her acting debut was as Sara in the Puerto Rican film "Linda Sara," directed by Oscar nominee Jacobo Morales. She then starred in twelve films during her four years in the Philippines, including "Basta't Kasama Kita," "Hataw Na," and "Type Kita, Walang Kokontra." In 1995, she founded the Dayanara Torres Foundation to provide aid and scholarships to impoverished children and families in the Philippines.
Returning to Puerto Rico in 1999, Torres topped the Billboard charts across Latin America and the Philippines with singles from her album "Antifaz," several of which also appeared on the Hot Latin Tracks chart.
Following marriage and divorce, Dayanara, a single mother of two boys, rebuilt her career by securing the recurring role of Elise on CBS's "The Young and the Restless" and working as a Special Correspondent for NBC's "Access Hollywood." She later starred in 66 episodes of the prime-time drama "Watch Over Me" (My Network TV/FOX). In 2009, she portrayed a battered woman and mother in "The Nail," alongside William Forsythe, Leo Rossi, and Tony Danza. In 2013, she appeared in the romantic comedy "200 Cartas" ("200 Letters") with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jaime Camil.
Dayanara is also an author; her book "Married To Me" ("Casada Conmigo" in Spanish) serves as a guide for women navigating divorce with grace.
In 2017, she won "Mira Quién Baila," earning a $55,000 grant for her charity, the San Jorge Children's Hospital Foundation in Puerto Rico. She has since served as a judge on the show from 2018 through 2021.
In 2018, The Latin Recording Academy honored her as a Latin GRAMMY Leading Lady in Entertainment.
She has appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, including People en Español, Cosmopolitan, Shape, Latina, Vanidades, Caras, Imagen, Ocean Drive, Asian Bride, Siempre Mujer, Good Housekeeping, and Marie Claire.
Dayanara has been the spokesperson for major brands such as L'Oreal, Diet Coke, Vidal Sassoon, Ray-Ban, Mazda, Carefree, Pantene, Advil, Crest, Metro 7 clothing line, Hydrience/Clairol, and Got Milk! She was twice named "Model of the Year" by Premios Juventud (Latin Youth Choice Awards).
Her charitable work spans over 20 years with the San Jorge Children's Hospital Foundation and includes hosting fundraisers for Covenant House CA, Same Sky, and PSA campaigns for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Da Vida Walk for the Oncological Hospital in Puerto Rico. She has served as a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and was California Ambassador for the March of Dimes for five years.
In early 2019, Dayanara was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. While undergoing radiation treatments, she began educating her followers about melanoma and skin cancer through her social media platforms. Her efforts significantly increased awareness, leading to a notable rise in Hispanics seeking skin examinations. MDedge, a medical publication, featured an article titled "The Dayanara Effect: Increasing Skin Cancer Awareness in the Hispanic Community," highlighting her impact and role in giving metastatic melanoma a new face.
She co-hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC in 2023 and 2024, hosted the 2023 Premios Juventud Awards on Univision, and frequently co-hosts Univision's "El Gordo y La Flaca.
