Childhood & Early Life
Fuentes was born on November 17, 1966, in Havana, Cuba, to Amado and Maria Fuentes. Her father is Cuban and worked as a real estate broker, while her mother is a painter with Spanish background. She has a younger sister, Rosana Fuentes Brijbag.
In 1969, when she was 3, the political unrest forced her family to leave Cuba and relocate to Madrid, Spain. Later, the family relocated to Harrison, a suburb of Newark, New Jersey. Fuentes improved her spoken English by watching television series like ‘I Love Lucy.’
She attended ‘Harrison High School,’ and graduated in 1984. During her high school years, she was voted ‘Homecoming Queen’ as well as ‘Best Looking.’ During her high school, she received some modeling assignments. According to her, she became an accidental model, as a neighbor, who was short on models, asked her to fill in, and that was the start of her show-biz journey.
As Fuentes was interested in starting her salon as a hairstylist, she joined a cosmetology school. Later, she majored in communications at ‘Bergen Community College,’ New Jersey.
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Career
After her modeling work, Fuentes got a job at ‘WNJU-TV 41,’ the ‘Telemundo’ New York affiliated station, to present weather bulletin in the evening and late night news. As she was featured on ‘Telemundo,’ she initially gained fame and popularity among the Latin viewers, but soon her talent was noticed by other channels as well, and she changed over to ‘WXTV- TV41,’ an affiliate of New York’s ‘Univision.’ Here, she presented evening news as well as weather report.
Along with these jobs, in 1988, she became program-host of Spanish-language music show ‘MTV Internacional’ on ‘Telemundo’ network. In 1993, Fuentes joined ‘MTV’ and became one of the favorite VJs - one who stood out prominently among the presenters. She was the first Latina VJ in the US.
Fuentes began appearing on several other ‘MTV’ shows, such as ‘MTV Top 20 Countdown’ (1992 & 1996), ‘MTV Rock n’ Jock’ (1993 – 1995), ‘Beach MTV’ (1993 – 1995), ‘Mt. MTV’ (1995), ‘MTV Latino’s Top 20 Video Countdown’ (1996), ‘House of Style’ (1997-1998), among others.
During 1994-1995, she hosted her own show on ‘CNBC,’ ‘Daisy.’
With her increasing popularity, Fuentes was soon approached by several companies to represent them as their spokesmodel. She represented several companies, including Revlon, Pantene, American Express, Milles Lite and M&M’s. She was the first Latina spokesperson for Revlon.
Fuentes hosted 3 seasons, from 1997 to 1999, of ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ alongside co-host John Fugelsang. She hosted innumerable award ceremonies, including ‘MTV Video Music Awards’ (1992), ‘The VIDA Awards’ (1995), ‘The 1996 Billboard Music Awards’ (1996), ‘The ALMA Awards’ (1998 &1999), ‘The 25th Annual American Music Awards’ (1998), and many more.
Fuentes has also hosted beauty pageants, such as ‘Miss USA Pageant’ (1995, 2003), ‘Miss Universe Pageant’ (1995, 2002 & 2003), and ‘Miss Teen USA.’
She has appeared on the covers of several magazines. She was named as one of ‘People en Español’s 50 Most Beautiful Women.’ She was the first ‘Mind, Body, Spirit Superstar.’
Fuentes has appeared on shows like ‘Loving,’ ‘Dream On,’ ‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ ‘Cybill,’ ‘I Love the ‘80s’ (miniseries), ‘Baywatch’ among others. In the TV movie ‘Shutterspeed’ (2000), she starred with Steve Borden (Sting).
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Fuentes launched her own clothing line through ‘Kohl’s Departmental Store,’ in 2004. This proved a profitable venture. In 2009, she released ‘Daisy Fuentes Pilates’ game for Nintendo Wii. She has been regularly practicing Pilates for years and enjoyed the process of creating this game. It is done in Spanish and English and the workouts were approved by renowned trainers.
Her book on lifestyle, ‘Unforgettable You: Mater the Elements of Style, Spirituality and True Beauty,’ was published in May, 2010. In 2012, Fuentes launched ‘Luxhair Wow,’ her own line of wigs, hairpieces and extensions. In 2013, she co-hosted ‘Telemundo’s’ ‘La Voz Kids,’ which is the Spanish version of ‘The Voice’ (NBC).
Charity Work
Fuentes supports the ‘American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – ASPCA.’ For the 2016 ‘National Spay and Neuter Month,’ she filmed a PSA with a message to ‘Spay and neuter pets to prevent the unwanted litters of dogs and cats.’
She regularly helps in raising money for ‘St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital’ and also joined the ‘World Poker Tour’ for fund-collection. Since 1997, she has been involved in this charity work and is the co-founder of the ‘St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala,’ the annual fund-raising event in Miami, which raised $1 million in 2016.
Fuentes helps in raising funds for ‘Breast Cancer Research’ and works to spread awareness through ‘Revlon/UCLA Women’s Breast Cancer Program.’ She is spokesperson of the ‘Starlight Children Foundation’ and ‘March of Dimes’ that helps improve health of mother and babies. In 2007, she participated in the ‘Girls on the Run,’ a program to help the preteen girls build confidence and self-respect through practicing healthy lifestyle. She took part in the ‘2009 Heart Truth’ show, staged to create awareness of risk of heart disease in women.
In 2014, Fuentes was honored with ‘ALMA Award’ for her contribution towards the Hispanic community.
Family & Personal Life
In 1991, Fuentes married actor-model Timothy Adams, but the two divorced in 1995.
Later, she dated Mexican singer and Latin icon Luis Miguel for 3 years, but they went separate ways in 1998.
Fuentes dated singer Matt Goss and they got engaged in 2003. However, they later broke the engagement.
In 2014, Fuentes starred in singer-songwriter Richard Marx’s music video, ‘Beautiful Goodbye.’ They dated for one year and got married on December 23, 2015, in Aspen, Colorado.
