Mayra Verónica

Mayra Verónica Aruca Rodríguez (born August 20, 1980) is a Cuban singer, actress, model and television public figure who became popular for her appearances on Spanish-language television. Verónica's role in Univision's Don Francisco Presenta brought her to the attention of FHM magazine's US edition. After appearing in FHM, she went on to do additional magazine work. She has taken part in many Spanish-language television shows, as well as appearing in music videos and television commercials. The Cuban American's career has seen her grace the covers of Billboard magazine, FHM, Shape and Maxim, along with high-profile national ad campaigns with L'Oréal, Coca-Cola and Nike.

She is a spokeswoman for the USO and is the founder of MVA Entertainment Group, a company dedicated to the promotion, publicity and management of independent music artists.

Early life Mayra Verónica was born in Havana, Cuba, where her father was a member of one of Cuba's rock bands, Los Dada. At the age of six, she moved to Miami with her mother,

Verónica landed a made-for-TV movie called The Suitor and did commercial campaigns for Nike, L'Oréal and Coca-Cola. Univision announced a new show hosted by Don Francisco with Verónica cast as the model and co-host. Known for her ample curves, she consented to having her last daily appearance focused on her backside before turning around to face the camera. Once the show aired, her signature feature 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 Verónica's publicist to ask for a feature spread on their magazine. Verónica agreed and after mail requesting her return, she went on to appear on the cover of the FHM exclusive collection book,

Upon her return from the tour, she was described as a "modern-day Betty Grable". Verónica continued touring with the USO and became an official spokesperson, appearing with then-President George W. Bush and Gary Sinise on a panel for C-SPAN about the organization. Performed in the musical style of reggaetón, Verónica's album included "Vengo Con To" of which King magazine said: "Verónica's moaning makes Madonna's Erotica sound like bubblegum pop... chew on that Daddy Yankee." The song charted in the Top 40 on Billboard, while the music video was reportedly banned from Latin television. The album's popularity landed Verónica a deal with Universal Motown, which put out a second single from the album titled "Mamma Mia". A third single, "Es Tan Dificil Olvidarte", dedicated to fallen troops, put Verónica in the top 10 on the pop contemporary charts. In 2014, Verónica's song "Mama Mia" was nominated for "Best Latin Dance Song of The Year" by the 29th Annual International Dance Music Awards (IDMA).

Verónica began 2010 on the cover of Billboard magazine with a new single, "If You Wanna Fly", that reached number 9 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart, number 11 on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart, number 5 on Billboard Dance/Electronic sales, number 17 on Billboard Heatseekers Songs and number 74 Hot 100 Chart. She released an album titled Saint Nor Sinner in 2012. Mayra Verónica landed the cover of Billboard again in July 2011, for the release of her new single "Freak Like Me", which reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Charts. who plays Verónica's love interest, was added to MTV Hits & VHI Latin America on full rotation. Mayra Verónica also worked on a parody with actor Keenan Cahill for Freak Like me which garnered millions of online views.

Verónica's "Ay Mama Mia" The Remixes went number 1 on Billboard Magazine Hot Dance Club Play chart in March 2013. "Ay Mama Mia" was produced by Grammy-nominated producers, Dave Audé and Roy Tavaré. The video was directed by the Actor/Director Larenz Tate. The original Spanish music video reached over 12 million views on YouTube. "Ay Mama Mia" was signed to publishing at BMG Records and it was also "the official theme song for the new IFC Film The Sons of The Buena Vista Social Media Club Musica Cubana impacting theaters worldwide in 2013" The song became the most popular song on the video game Just Dance. A lot of Mayra Verónica's "Ay Mama Mia's" success was attributed to not just its sound but the influence of record executive Simon Cowell who signed Verónica and the winning song to his music label Syco Music in London.

Verónica's "MAMA YO!" came in later as a collaboration with the Italian Electro Swing band The Sweet Life Society. The production is a remake of Carmen Miranda's "Mama Yo Quero". The electro-house track debuted on the US Billboard Dance/Mix Show chart and saw success in Europe and North America. The music video has over 10 million combined views on YouTube. It was remixed with Sean Paul as a featured artist and renamed "Outta Control" before being released by BMG Records in 2016 together with Yolanda Be Cool Mayra Verónica continued to put out club/dance hits like Latin producer Sak Noel's "No Boyfriend No Problem" and Nils Van Zandt "Party Crasher" in 2018.

Mayra Verónica returned after the pandemic with a strong Latin beat. She released her percussive Tropical/Latin Spanish-language single on April 8, 2022 titled "VEN" cowritten by her and Cuban songwriter Carlos Celles. Verónica followed the release of "Ven" with a ballad titled "Que Mas", also co-written by her and Celles and produced by Gustavo Farias, a multi-Grammy winner who has worked with Juan Gabriel, Marc Anthony, Paul Anka, Vicente Fernandez, Andrea Bocelli and Luis Fonsi.

Discography Studio albums 2007: Vengo Con To''' 2012: Saint Nor Sinner (Unreleased) 2022: Ven ''

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Airplay Heatseeker Songs Dance/Electronic Digital Songs 2010 "If You Wanna Fly" 13 17 21 5 - 2011 "Freak Like Me" 3 18 – 28 2013 "Ay Mama Mia" 1 - - - 2014 "Mama Mia" - - - - "No Boyfriend (No Problem)" (with Sak Noel, DJ Kuba & Neitan; featured vocalist) - 39 - - 2015 "Mama Yo!" - - - - "Party Crasher" (with Nilz Van Zandt; featured vocalist) - - - - 2016 "Outta Control" (with Sean Paul, Yolanda Be Cool; featured vocalist) - - - - 2022 "VEN" (featured vocalist) - - - - "—" denotes a release that didn't chart.

Label signed 2013 Mama Mia: Syco Music/Sony Music UK (worldwide) Ultra Music (US & Canada) 2015 MAMA YO!: Warner Bros. Records Territory Worldwide licensed to excluding: disco: wax/Sony Music Scandinavia, EGO Music (Italy), Central Station Records/Universal Music Australia 2015 No Boyfriend: Sony Music (worldwide) Ultra Music (US) 2015 Officially signed an artist deal with Warner Bros. Records (worldwide) 2022 Officially signed a record deal with BMG Records (Worldwide)

Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Suitor Lucy 2006 Pledge This! Stacy Williams 2010 Tumbe Marbella Thompson Episodes: "Mayra Veronica visits Miami Season 48 2012 Miami Snow Cindy 2019 Just Dance Self: Mayra Veronica 2021 Booty and the Beast The Beauty 2023 Uncharitable

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 The 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Self Presenter 2004 Despierta America Self Episode dated 4 November 2004 (Nov 4, 2004) (as Mayra Veronica) 2002–2012 Don Francisco Presenta Co- Host/ Model (TV Special) – Self – Co-Host (as Mayra Veronica) 2007 The Factor Self Episode dated 13 December 2007 2009 Hannity Panelist 7 episodes 2012 New Now Next Awards Nerea 17 episodes 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Herself (host) (TV Special) – Self (as Mayra Veronica) 2013 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Self (TV Series) – Performer ("Freak Like Me") (2 episodes, 2013) Episode #21.128 (Apr 11, 2013) Season 21, Episode 128 – Performer ("Freak Like Me") (uncredited) Episode #21.127 (Apr 10, 2013) Season 21, Episode 127 – Performer ("Freak Like Me") (uncredited) 2014 American Latino Self (TV Special) – Self (as Mayra Veronica) Episode #12.12 (Feb 3, 2014) Season 12, Episode 12 – Self (as Mayra Veronica) 2022 Good Day New York Self (TV Series) – Self (1 episode, 2022)