You’ve probably heard Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” more times than you can count, so it’s not surprising that the music video is nearing the top of the list of most-viewed YouTube videos of all time. And while you might hear Justin Bieber’s remix in your head when you think of the raggaeton hit, there’s no official video for his version—the one that launched the song into the playlists of English-speaking listeners everywhere. So the chart-topping video that’s nearing 3 billion views on YouTube is actually the original song, sans Bieber. Despite the fact that the video isn’t even for the Bieber version, everyone seems to be watching it, and we think we know why: Zuleyka Rivera. You may not recognize her name, but you’ll recognize her as the gorgeous star of the “Despacito” music video.The Puerto Rican beauty has been in the limelight for years, making appearances on various Spanish-speaking television networks and getting crowned Miss Universe in 2006.Click through for some of our favorite photos of Rivera.
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Rodrigo Varela / Contributor / Getty
Rivera was born in 1987, and grew up in Salinas, Puerto Rico.
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Thaddaeus McAdams / Contributor / Getty
In 2006, she represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe pageant and won the coveted title, which later launched her acting career.
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Victor Chavez / Contributor / Getty
Her television debut was on the telenovela Dame Chocolate in 2007.
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GV Cruz / Contributor / Getty
She’s a single mother to her five-year-old son, Sebastián.
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Victor Chavez / Contributor / Getty
Rivera also took a dive into film with a role in Runner, Runner in 2013.
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Alexander Tamargo / Contributor / Shutterstock
Rivera was the fifth Puerto Rican woman to win the Miss Universe pageant.
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John Parra / Contributor / Getty
Rivera is very active on Instagram, where she shares plenty of gorgeous photos of herself with followers. Follow her at @zuleykarivera.
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Brian Ach / Contributor / Getty
Rivera is fashion-savvy, running her own swimwear line, ZK Swimwear.
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John Parra / Contributor / Getty
The actress and beauty queen also has a line of clothing and fragraces at Kress stores in Puerto Rico.
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Marc Andrew Deley / Contributor / Getty
Rivera also hosted her own show, La Revista de Zuleyka.
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GV Cruz / Contributor / Getty
Rivera has also made appearances on other telenovelas, including Alguien Te Mira.
You’ve probably heard Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” more times than you can count, so it’s not surprising that the music video is nearing the top of the list of most-viewed YouTube videos of all time. And while you might hear Justin Bieber’s remix in your head when you think of the raggaeton hit, there’s no official video for his version—the one that launched the song into the playlists of English-speaking listeners everywhere. So the chart-topping video that’s nearing 3 billion views on YouTube is actually the original song, sans Bieber.
Despite the fact that the video isn’t even for the Bieber version, everyone seems to be watching it, and we think we know why: Zuleyka Rivera. You may not recognize her name, but you’ll recognize her as the gorgeous star of the “Despacito” music video.
The Puerto Rican beauty has been in the limelight for years, making appearances on various Spanish-speaking television networks and getting crowned Miss Universe in 2006.
Click through for some of our favorite photos of Rivera.
Rivera was born in 1987, and grew up in Salinas, Puerto Rico.
In 2006, she represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe pageant and won the coveted title, which later launched her acting career.
Her television debut was on the telenovela Dame Chocolate in 2007.
She’s a single mother to her five-year-old son, Sebastián.
Rivera also took a dive into film with a role in Runner, Runner in 2013.
Rivera was the fifth Puerto Rican woman to win the Miss Universe pageant.
Rivera is very active on Instagram, where she shares plenty of gorgeous photos of herself with followers. Follow her at @zuleykarivera.
Rivera is fashion-savvy, running her own swimwear line, ZK Swimwear.
The actress and beauty queen also has a line of clothing and fragraces at Kress stores in Puerto Rico.
Rivera also hosted her own show, La Revista de Zuleyka.
Rivera has also made appearances on other telenovelas, including Alguien Te Mira.
