Maribel Guardia.

Maribel Fernández García was born on May 29, 1959 in San Jose, Costa Rica. At age 19, she was crowned Miss Costa Rica in 1978 and represented her country in Miss World and Miss Universe, where she was named Miss Photogenic. She studied drama at Sergio Bustamante’s Academy on a Televisa scholarship. To avoid confusion with another actress, she changed her stage surname to Guardia.

Guardia made her film debut in Peter Knife 1984. She gained attention in the 1986 horror film Terror and Black Lace and the telenovela La Alacrana. In 1996, she co-starred with Joan Sebastian in Tu y yo, which led to a personal relationship. She released her first album as a singer in June 1988. Her television credits include Corona de Lágrimas 2012 and the reality show Quién Es La Máscara? 2019.

Guardia had a four-year relationship with singer Joan Sebastian, her co-star in the 1996 telenovela Tu y yo. The couple married in 1992 and had a son, Marcos Julián, known as Julián Figueroa, before divorcing in 1996. She relocated to Mexico after her pageant days, leaving her mother and boyfriend behind.

Mexican media frequently photograph and advertise Maribel Guardia, calling her La Bella. She transitioned from beauty queen to actress and singer, and other pageant contestants in Latin American entertainment followed her example. She continues to appear in television and film, with a career spanning over four decades.