Penélope Menchaca facts for kids
Penélope Menchaca (born September 6, 1968) is a Mexican television host, singer, and actress. She is well-known for hosting popular TV shows like 12 Corazones.
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Early Life and Career
Penélope Menchaca was born in Mexico City, Mexico. Her mother, Dolores Menchaca, was the director of The Mexican National Ballet Folklorico. Penélope studied law at University La Salle in Mexico City.
When she was 15, Penélope joined the National Ballet of Mexico. She traveled the world as a ballerina, performing in many places. Later, at 19, she became the lead singer of a music group called Las Nenas. She sang with them for almost 15 years.
Television Career
In 1999, while touring the United States with Las Nenas, Penélope caught the eye of KRCA Channel 62 in Los Angeles. They were starting a new show called "Los Angeles al día" and wanted her to be the host. After some thought, she decided to leave the singing group and move to Los Angeles with her two daughters.
She became the host of Los Angeles en Vivo. For five years, she interviewed many famous people. Some of these included singers like Chayanne and Lupillo Rivera, and even the illusionist David Copperfield.
Hosting 12 Corazones
In 2004, Penélope was chosen to host a new dating game show called 12 Corazones (which means 12 Hearts). This show combined astrology with fun games. It first aired in December 2004 on Telemundo.
By 2006, 12 Corazones became very popular. It was picked up by Televisa Mexico and aired three times a day. The show also started being shown in other countries like Colombia, Panama, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
Other Shows and Recent Work
Penélope Menchaca has hosted many other special TV programs. These include Noche de Poker, 100 Mexicanos Dijeron, and the Billboard Latin Music Awards. She also hosted Miss Universe 2006.
In 2009, a spin-off show called 12 Corazones: Rumbo al Altar began. This show featured engaged couples competing for prizes to help them start their lives together. In 2011, Televisa chose Penélope to host their version of Minute To Win It.
In 2018, Penélope joined the morning show Venga la Alegría on TV Azteca. She hosted a discussion segment called Las cosas como son. In 2021, she moved to Milan, Italy, to be closer to her family. She then filmed El Poder del Amor 2 in Istanbul, Turkey. In December 2022, Penélope returned to Miami to host Telemundo's morning show, Hoy Dia.
Personal Life
Penélope Menchaca has two daughters. Her older daughter, Yania, worked on 12 Corazones for a year before going to college.
Penélope stays active by working out every day. She enjoys boot camp, boxing, salsa dancing, and lifting weights.
She has a unique collection of dolls, including a replica of "Chucky" from the Child's Play movies. Her favorite football team is Club América, which is from her hometown of Mexico City.
See also
In Spanish: Penélope Menchaca para niños
