Her name is: Mayra Verónica

Her bag is: Pop, dance, salsa, merengue, reggaeton.

Mayra Verónica is known around the world for her curvy body, but she’s preparing to follow in the footsteps of her father, Arturo Aruca, a famous singer and musician from Cuba for the top rock band Los Dada.

Mayra first became noticed on Univision’s Don Francisco Presenta where her role as the model with the voluptuous body caught the attention of US men’s magazines. Her face and body move product for Nike, L’Oreal, Ford, Burger King, Coca Cola, and others. The US Marines voted her their favorite pin up girl in 2006, and she had the best selling calendar worldwide in 2005 and 2006.

A solo Spanish album produced two singles, Vengo Con To, which earned her a spot on New York’s top 10 at La Mega, and Mama Mia, which reached the top 20 Latin tropical charts on Billboard and Radio and Records.

Mayra has a multi-million dollar record deal with CMG/Universal Motown and is presently recording a new album, this time in English.

Savvy: Hey Mayra, glad to be talking with you again. How was the Grammy’s?

Mayra: It was great this year. I was rooting for Amy (Winehouse) all the way, and she swept the board.

Savvy: Cool. We’re here to talk about your music. What can you tell us about it?

Mayra: My next album is going to be a worldwide release. Right now we are working out the whole strategy and working with the top producers.

Savvy: Terrific. Everybody knows you have a famous dad. Did you soak in the songs as a kiddo?

Mayra: My father was constantly performing. I remember sitting by my father’s side when I was a very small girl as he played Cenicienta, a Cuban song about Cinderella.

Savvy: I guess you became a model instead of a singer at first because nobody wants to do what the old man does, right?

Mayra: Yeah. I shied away from music initially. I got a degree in psychology, but I was always doing pageants and modelling. When I was on Univision, I met a lot of musicians and top Spanish producers who were asking me why I didn’t try my hand at music. In 2005, I did. I had a lot of success with my first album worldwide.

Savvy: Since you’re famous for looking great in, well, not a lot, do you ever worry about being taken seriously for your pipes?

Mayra: It’s been a struggle throughout time to be a respected artist and popular artist. There’s always a stigma if you are not a starving artist. I’m not going to say that I’m extremely gifted or a singer of Celine Dion’s talent, but I am a creative artist.

Savvy: What did your first album sound like?

Mayra: It was a mix of tropical sounds like salsa and merenge. This new album is pop-driven with an urban beat. We have some dance tracks as well, but it is mostly pop songs. Look for it to come out this summer. I may be dropping the Mayra for the music and just be known as just Verónica.

Savvy: That’s weird. Seems like they’d want to capitalise on your celebrity.

Mayra: I’m told it is easier to remember.

Savvy: Can we expect you to keep showing off your famous body in your music videos? If we say please…?

Mayra: For sure, doing music videos is definitely something I am looking forward to. I was the lead in Frankie J’s video for Pensando en Ti, which caused quite a stir. That was fun to do and I was very happy with it.

Savvy: I like the Borat-style swimsuit you wear in the video for Vengo Con To. Do you see yourself breaking out as more than just a quote-unquote Hispanic singer?

Mayra: It’s funny because I came to America when I was two years old and I speak better English than I do Spanish, but I do have the look. I guess it’s the industry’s way of trying to categorise you. Everybody needs to put you in a little box so they can understand you. I don’t mind it because I speak Spanish and I am a celebrity.

Savvy: I read somewhere you were going to stop doing calendars. Please tell me that is a vicious lie.

Mayra: I wasn’t going to do a 2008 calendar, but after I visited the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, there were so many requests I decided to go ahead and do it. I’ve always made a point to respond to their requests and send out care packages, so I think that has a lot to do with it. When your friends are dying, it means a lot to receive a care package, especially with the sexy girl thing.

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Semper Fi!

Savvy: Why do you think your popularity with the troops has soared even as the popularity of this war has plummeted? Are you a cheerleader for Bush’s war?

Mayra: I don’t think war is a benefit to anyone, but I can’t turn my back on those soldiers just because some people would like to change the fact that we are at war. Regardless of what we might think are the real reasons for this war, those soldiers have got to believe they’re out there fighting for our freedom. They aren’t the ones responsible for this war. You can fight the ones you think are responsible for it, but don’t turn your back on the soldiers. It’s not their fault.

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On the Web:

http://www.mayraveronica.com/