Maribel Guardia

About

Maribel del Rocío Fernández García (born 29 May 1959), known professionally as Maribel Guardia, is a Costa Rican-Mexican actress, singer, and television personality. She began her career as a beauty pageant contestant in Costa Rica, where she won Miss Costa Rica 1978 and went on to represent the country at Miss World 1978. Since 1980, she has worked in Mexico, appearing in numerous telenovelas, fichera films, and variety shows. She has also developed a career as a singer of Regional Mexican music.

Guardia was elected Miss Costa Rica in 1978, going on to represent her country at the Miss Universe 1978 beauty pageant (did not place but was selected as Miss Photogenic) and the Miss World 1978 beauty pageant (placed as a top 15 semi-finalist). The Miss Universe pageant had been held in Acapulco. She received offers by Televisa producer Sergio Bustamante to develop a career there, but she returned to her country. Months later, she accepted the offer and returned to Mexico, leaving her mother and boyfriend.

Guardia moved to Mexico in 1980, which proved crucial for her show business career. In 1980, she appeared in her first…