Cristina Saralegui

Cristina Saralegui’s incredible career as a talk show host, entrepreneur, and advocate for various causes is viewed as one of a champion who broke new ground and revolutionized Hispanic media and the storylines about the Latino community. One could say creating powerful editorial content ran in her veins, as her father was a publishing icon in Havana. However, Cristina’s parents did not initially support her career aspirations. Nonetheless, Cristina pursued a career in communications and creative writing and would eventually become the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan en Español. Under her joint leadership with dear friend, Helen Gurley Brown, the publication became a huge success in the U.S., Latin America and Spain.

In 1989, the young journalist was given the opportunity to host a show for Univision. El Show de Cristina became a remarkable success, enjoying a 21-year run that consistently topped the Daytime TV ratings and having built an audience of over 100 million viewers worldwide. Her global presence made her one of the very first and most powerful influencers of her time, to the point she was dubbed “The Latina Oprah.” Despite covering controversial and taboo topics for the era – such as domestic violence, AIDS, same-sex marriage and even incest, Cristina and the show were embraced by many, and she was recognized with 12 Emmy Awards for excellence in television content. Over the years, she expanded her media empire, with her husband and partner, Marcos Avila, with a daily radio show, a monthly magazine, and even her own autobiography, Cristina! My Life as a Blonde. In 2001, she opened her own production studio becoming the first Latina studio owner. She later sold the studio in 2015 for upwards of $10 million dollars.

As a highly trusted on-air personality and spokesperson, Cristina was instrumental in marketing several brands to the Hispanic consumer audience, including AT&T. Aside from her media success, Cristina also launched an eyewear line, a collection of home furnishings, and was active in charitable work. She founded Arriba la Vida, a foundation that provided AIDS awareness and education to Hispanics, and has been a vocal advocate for the gay and lesbian community.

Overall, Cristina Saralegui’s story is one of determination, hard work, and a desire to make a difference in the world. Her contributions to the media industry and various causes have touched the lives of many, and she continues to be an inspiration to this day.

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