Ariana Barouk Biography

}}

Ariana Barouk is a model, actress and singer, who represented Cuba in the seventh edition of the environmentally-oriented Miss Earth 2007 international beauty pageant.

She became the first Miss Cuba in several decades to compete in a major pageant.

Early life and education

Barouk was born on November 5, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family moved to Miami, Florida, and settled there when she was two years old. Both her father and mother were born in Cuba. Her father is of Cuban, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, and Spanish descent. Her mother is of Cuban and Spanish descent. Barouk speaks fluent English, Spanish, Brazilian and European Portuguese, and Tagalog.

She began her career at 3 by participating in local and national beauty pageants in Florida. In 1988, she participated in "Concurso de Nina Modelo" on Sabado Gigante (Univision) becoming the first child to win $1,000, which resulted as a recurring actor on Ninos Actores in the same Sabado Gigante popular variety show for 2 years.

At age 6, she was discovered by a Miami talent agent who suggested she should pursue acting.

Barouk became a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) in 1989. She was nominated for "Acuacions Descatadas-Teatro Infantil" in the 1990 ACCA awards for her theatrical performances.

At Florida International University, Barouk majored in public relations. Before leaving for Miss Earth, she was working as an intern for the public relations firm Crossover Agency. She also worked part-time for high-end boutiques such as Burberry, Carolina Herrera and Chlo. One of her goals is to be an entrepreneur and someday open her own PR firm and/or boutique.

Career

Barouk became a featured dancer on the hit Univision dance show Caliente until 2006, which resulted in several music videos with Gloria Estefan "Me Voy", Thala "Amor a la Mexicana Remix".

In 2003 she became interested in production, working award shows such as Fox's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, Premios lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, Premios Fox Sports, Latin Grammy, Premios MTV Latinoamrica and Latin Billboards among others.

Barouk also commenced voice training with Mario Martinelli, Enrique Iglesias's coach and Nicolas Tovar Shakira's coach. She did back-up singing for Laura Leon on "Sabado Gigante" (Univision) as well for Jaci Velasquez on "Esta Maana" (Telemundo).

In 2007 she lived in the Philippines where she started a showbiz career by appearing daily in the popular game show Eat Bulaga! then Hosted OGAGS Show on TV5 for over 2 1/2 years. She did many celebrity guesting and co-hosting for numerous TV stations such as ABS-CBN, GMA, QTV, on many of their popular TV shows. She also appeared in Reality Shows, Opening numbers for Wowowee weekly Show, hosted Local Events and Parties. She worked with Dolphy and his sons Epy Quizon and Vandolph as a cast member "Lyla" of the weekly show Pidol's Wonderland.

In 2010 Barouk left the Philippines, returned to her home town of Miami and pursued training in acting with Hector Zavaleta of Actors Workshop and theater with Miguel Sahid of SAH. Roberto Avellanet, ex-member of Menudo cast her as his love interest in his music video "No Te Arrepientes" which placed number one spots in radio and video play in Venezuela, Columbia and other Latin American counties.

Miss Cuba

In 2007, Carousel Productions awarded the license to Miss Cuba Organization of Miami, Florida to select a Cuban representative for the Miss Earth international beauty pageant.

The Miss Cuba Organization held a national contest in Miami, home of the largest Cuban community in the United States. Barouk, then a student of Florida International University won the pageant.

Miss Earth participation

Barouk competed in Miss Earth 2007, which took place on November 11, 2007, at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City, Philippines, won by Jessica Trisko of Canada. The delegates had a special tour in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Eighty-eight delegates competed for the title, including Barouk, who represented Cuba.

She earned the distinction of being the first Cuban representative in any international pageant in many decades. Cuba was last represented in Miss Universe in 1967 and in Miss World in 1975; however, both delegates participated by appointment and neither were able to compete. 1959 was the last time a candidate was able to truly compete in Miss Universe.

In the 2007 pageant, Barouk won the "Miss Eco-Tourism" special award, placed top in "Long Gown" and was among the top favorites to win the crown. This made TAPE, Inc., producer of Eat Bulaga, notice her and hired her as a co-host of the popular show. She stayed in Manila, Philippines, to live and pursued a showbiz career, where she was then hired onto a New Show OGAGS as the MAIN HOST on TV5 (Philippines)

"I want to create and promote the protection of rainforests because they help in the purification of the air which stops air pollution. The plants and animals of the rainforests also provide us with food, fuel wood, shelter, jobs and medicines. Rainforests also help stabilize the world's climate, support tribal people and protect against flood, drought and erosion. This is why the promotion of rainforests is essential." Ariana Barouk, Miss Cuba Earth 2007