Bio
Patricia Velásquez is a Venezuelan actress and fashion model best known for appearing as a contestant on the fifth season (the 12th overall) of the reality competition The Celebrity Apprentice, in 2012.
Born in Venezuela, Velásquez climbed to the top of the fashion world becoming the first Latina supermodel, working on the runway for Chanel, Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Carolina Herrera to name a few.
Velásquez's exotic features have graced the covers of countless magazines such as Vogue, Bazaar and Marie Claire, and she has starred in several commercial campaigns including Allure, Pantene and New York & Co.
As an actor, Velásquez has worked in countless films and TV shows, including Le Jaguar, Zapata, Mindhunters, Fidel, Committed, CSI: Miami, Arrested Development, Rescue Me, Ed, and American Family, but she is most recognized for her role as Ank Su Namun in the films The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.
Velásquez also executive produced and starred in Cenizas Eternas. Her stage debut in School of the Americas, produced by Philip Seymour Hoffman and written by Jose Rivera for the Public Theater in New York City, was critically acclaimed.
Velásquez is a UNESCO Artist for Peace and an active charity worker. She received the Women Together award at the UN in 2009, and in November 2010 was honoured with the Solidarity Award. This last award is part of the Prix de Marie Claire de la Beauté annual awards in Spain.
Her Wayuu Taya Foundation is dedicated to improving the living conditions of Latin American indigenous groups while respecting their culture.
In 2011, Velásquez launched her hair care collection at HSN, called Taya Beauty. The products are free of parabens, sulfates and animal products and have main ingredients that are organically grown through environmentally sustainable programs of the indigenous communities of South America.
Velásquez was a guest on Oprah, a frequent judge at the Supermodel of the World contest sponsored by Ford Models, and has been featured countless times in the mainstream media as a Latina celebrity.