Maria Conchita Alonso

Maria Conchita Alonso combines striking beauty, exceptional talent, and a magnetic personality that elevated her to prominence in film, on Broadway, and as a Grammy-nominated vocalist. Crowned Miss Teenager of the World in 1971 and Miss Venezuela in 1975, she received the title “Hispanic Woman of the Year” from the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in 1990. Her meteoric rise began immediately after the 1971 pageant victory, culminating in international recognition through her performance in the 1984 feature Moscow on the Hudson with Robin Williams. Later screen credits encompass Touch and Go opposite Michael Keaton, A Fine Mess with Ted Danson and Howie Mandel in 1986, Running Man alongside Arnold Schwartzenegger and Extreme Prejudice with Nick Nolte in 1987, Colors featuring Robert Duvall and Sean Penn in 1988, and Vampire's Kiss co-starring Nicholas Cage in 1989. She shared the spotlight in the 1992 HBO production Teamster Boss -- The Jackie Presser Story and, two years afterward, appeared with Kenny Rogers in the NBC movie McShayne. April 1995 brought her role in the four-hour miniseries Texas, while she also led the NBC sitcom “One Of The Boys.” The first Grammy nomination arrived in 1985 for Best Latin Artist on her self-titled album, followed by a 1988 nod for Best Latin Pop Performance on Otra Mentira Mas. Her 1992 release Imaginame, co-produced with K.C. Porter and Mari Spiro and containing seven songs she co-wrote, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. Throughout this period she remained among Latin America’s foremost celebrities, hosting the weekly Spanish-language variety program Picante from January 1992 through January 1993. In February 1994 she headlined Alejandra, adapted from Dela Fiallo’s novella, which reached audiences across 40 Spanish-speaking nations and drew more than three million viewers; an accompanying collection of romantic ballads was issued at the same time. On March 20, 1995, she became the first Latin-born actress to headline a Broadway production, taking the stage in Kiss of the Spider Woman.