Patricia Velasquez

With a career that spans from the glamour of modeling and films to the positive efforts of active charity work, Patricia Velasquez is far from just a pretty face. Embodying all that is beauty and strength of mind, Velasquez has a heart of gold, having never forgotten where she came from and always eager to spread messages of encouragement to young Latinas around the world.

Born in Venezuela, Velasquez 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. Velasquez'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, Velasquez 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." Velasquez recently 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.

Patricia Velasquez is well aware of the hardships encountered by Latin American indigenous communities, especially in her native Wayuu Village area where, on average, one child a day was dying due to malnutrition and poor living conditions. In 2002, she started a charity, The Wayuu Taya Foundation, as a way to improve the lives of these indigenous communities while still respecting their traditions, cultures and beliefs.