Mónica Santa María
Encyclopedia
Mónica Janette Santa María Smith, (6 December 1972 – 13 March 1994) was a Peruvian model and TV hostess. She was born in Lima, Peru, and became very popular when she hosted the Peruvian children's TV show Nubeluz
. She was the second daughter of Danilo Santa María and Judith Smith, a Canadian citizen.
.
Because of her beauty and outgoing personality, she became a successful model. At the age of nine, she started her professional career as a model by starring her first TV commercial. At the age of eleven, she did a TV commercial for a well-known shampoo named "Ammen". This commercial is still remembered by many Peruvians. When she turned 13, she became the main model for the Peruvian cosmetic company Yanbal, Unique today. In this job she met Almendra Gomelsky, who would be her friend for 8 years.
Nubeluz was watched by more than 24 million Spanish-speaking people, and it was translated into other languages like English, Turkish and Chinese. After a short time in the air, the show became a success and it's until now the best Peruvian television show ever made.
Mónica suffered from depression
, stress and apparently from bipolar disorder
.
In March 1993 she decided to quit Nubeluz to live with her boyfriend Constantino Heredia in the capital city of the United States
, Washington D. C.
. After six months she decided to go back to Peru and host with Almendra and another two "Dalinas" Nubeluz.
After Mónica's death Nubeluz began to decline until it ended in the summer of 1996.
Monica was buried in the cemetery Jardines de la Paz in the district of La Molina in Lima-Peru.
Nubeluz
Nubeluz was a Peruvian children's show airing from 1990 to 1996. The show was produced by Panamericana Televisión and aired through Perú's Channel 5, was directed by Luis Carrizales Stoll and written by Alonso Alegria, Maritza Kirchhausen, Catalina Lohmann, Clara María Cavagnaro and Fernando...
. She was the second daughter of Danilo Santa María and Judith Smith, a Canadian citizen.
Early life
She went to the school "Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen", also known as "Carmelitas", located in MirafloresMiraflores District
Miraflores is a district of the Lima Province in Peru. Known for its shopping areas, gardens, flower-filled parks and beaches, it is one of the upscale districts that make up the city of Lima....
.
Because of her beauty and outgoing personality, she became a successful model. At the age of nine, she started her professional career as a model by starring her first TV commercial. At the age of eleven, she did a TV commercial for a well-known shampoo named "Ammen". This commercial is still remembered by many Peruvians. When she turned 13, she became the main model for the Peruvian cosmetic company Yanbal, Unique today. In this job she met Almendra Gomelsky, who would be her friend for 8 years.
La Dalina Chiquita
After successfully finishing the school in December 1989, she was elected for being one of the animators of the children'S TV show Nubeluz. She and her friend Almendra Gomelsky hosted the children's TV Show Nubeluz from late 1990 to early 1994. Both were named "Dalinas", this was a short word for "Dama Linda" which means "Pretty Lady". Mónica was "La Dalina Chiquita" ("The small dalina"); because of her height, Almendra was "La Dalina Grande" ("The big dalina").Nubeluz was watched by more than 24 million Spanish-speaking people, and it was translated into other languages like English, Turkish and Chinese. After a short time in the air, the show became a success and it's until now the best Peruvian television show ever made.
Personal life
Mónica studied management in a center of business, which belonged to the University del Pacifico in Lima, but had to quit because she frequently had to go on tours, mostly around Peru and Latin America, to promote the show.Mónica suffered from depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, stress and apparently from bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
.
In March 1993 she decided to quit Nubeluz to live with her boyfriend Constantino Heredia in the capital city of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Washington D. C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. After six months she decided to go back to Peru and host with Almendra and another two "Dalinas" Nubeluz.
Death
Mónica was found dead on her bed on Monday March 14, 1994. The police concluded that she shot herself with a gun between 2:30AM and 3:00AM on March 13. Monica left a message on Constantino's cellphone, in this message it was clear to hear her intention to commit suicide. She had been dead for 32 hours when her body was found. She was only 21 years old.After Mónica's death Nubeluz began to decline until it ended in the summer of 1996.
Monica was buried in the cemetery Jardines de la Paz in the district of La Molina in Lima-Peru.