Career
Machado won the 1995 Miss Venezuela pageant entering Yaracuy and then the Miss Universe 1996 crown in Las Vegas. The runner-up, Jacqueline Aguilera, also won the Miss World 1995 crown, marking the second time that two Venezuelans from the same pageant won two world titles. Machado's reign came as Donald Trump took ownership of the Miss Universe pageant.
During her reign as Miss Universe, Machado made headlines when it was reported that she gained too much weight and the Miss Universe Organization was considering replacing her with her runner-up, Taryn Mansell of Aruba. In the end, Machado retained her title.
In 1998, Alicia made her debut on the popular Venezuelan soap opera Samantha in the titular role. She won the Midia Award in Spain and the Ace award in New York City, as the new Actress of the year. Following the success of Samantha she was called to star in Infierno en el Paraiso, another successful soap opera. In 1999 she released her debut album “Alicia En El Pais De Las Maravillas”. A second album was released in November 2007.
In 2001, she had a small role on the international soap opera Secreto de Amor. During 2004–2005, she pursued a career as a TV commercial model with particular success in promoting a dieting product. In 2005, Machado appeared on a Spanish reality show called La Granja de los famosos ("The Farm"). On February 19, 2006, Machado debuted on a Mexican reality show named Cantando Por Un Sueño ("Singing For A Dream"), a program in the line of the previous Bailando Por Un Sueño ("Dancing For A Dream"), in which the winner has the chance for a dream to come true. The show is very similar to Dancing with the Stars (U.S.) and ¡Más que baile! (formerly titled ¡Mira Quién Baila!) ("Look Who's Dancing!") (Spain).
Machado appeared in (and on the cover of) the February 2006 issue of Playboy magazine's Mexican edition, thus becoming the only Miss Universe to pose nude for Playboy.
On January 22, 2010, Machado revealed her fingerprints on Paseo de las Luminarias, in Mexico City, in recognition of her artistic career in Mexico.
On September 9, 2012, Machado is one of the ten participating competitors on the third season of Mira Quien Baila.
On November 19, 2012, Alicia won 3rd place in the 3rd season of Mira Quien Baila
Read more about this topic: Alicia Machado
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