Trivia

Has 2 sons: Cristian Anthony Muñiz (b. February 6, 2001) & Ryan Anthony Muñiz (b. August 16, 2003) with ex-husband, Marc Anthony.

One of the youngest Miss Universe winners (won at 18)

(February 4, 2019) Has been diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, from a big spot/mole she never paid attention to, even though it was new, it had been growing for years and had an uneven surface. Her fiancé Louis D'Esposito had been begging her to have it checked and then made an appointment himself. After a biopsy and a second surgery on January 29th the results came back are positive. Doctors already removed a big area from her back and knee and also they have removed two lymph nodes at the top of her leg where cancer had already spread.

She wanted to be an orthodontist before winning the 1993 Miss Universe pageant

Speaks Spanish, English, and Tagalog (main language of the Philippines).

She was born on the very same day and in the same city as Joaquin Phoenix.

She became the 3rd Miss Universe of Puerto Rico

In honor of her beauty and talent, the Dayanara doll was launched in 1998, complete with a crown, and outfits of a singer, dancer, and model.  The doll was immediately sold out in Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Studied voice lesson under Ryan Cayabyab.

Dayanara won the following beauty pageants: Miss Toa Alta 1992, Miss Puerto Rico Universe 1992 & Miss Universe 1993.

Lived in the Philippines from 1994 to 1998. She hosted two TV shows and starred in 7 movies there.

Loves to ride horses

She was the host of the highly rated live variety show "ASAP" which is broadcast throughout all of Asia.

The Philippines Press Club honored her with the Best New TV Personality Award in 1995.

Got engaged to fiancé Louis D'Esposito in November 2018.

She even sang a duet during the pageant Miss Universe 1994 with 'Peabo Bryson', called "A Whole New World". Little did she know that night that her own life would, once again, take an exciting turn and that she would be living in a whole new world herself.