Childhood
Jessica Caban was born to Puerto Rican parents in Manhattan, New York, on June 13, 1982. She was the younger of the two children in the family. She grew up with her elder brother.
Jessica spent the initial years of her life in New York and moved to Spanish Harlem afterward. There, she finished her primary and secondary education. As a child, she had no interest in the entertainment industry and was like any other teenager. She wanted to become a lawyer and studied hard for that.
She watched ‘West Side Story’ as a teenager. She was inspired by Rita Moreno who played the lead role in the 1961 cult-classic film. Rita was also Puerto Rican, and after watching the film, Jessica decided to make a career in the entertainment industry and become as influential as Rita.
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Career
Jessica started her modeling career at the age of 20, and it was pure luck. Popular singer and actor Jennifer Lopez was looking for new faces for her fashion line, ‘J-LO,’ and embarked on a nationwide hunt. Jessica participated in the contest and ended up becoming the runner-up.
This stint turned out to be a career-transforming affair for Jessica. Following this, she appeared in many magazines and TV commercials. The famous Latin house-music group ‘Proyecto Uno’ got in touch with her and featured her in the hit song ‘Holla.’
Meanwhile, she never fell short of modeling assignments and continued to appear in TV commercials. In 2008, another major chance to attain nationwide fame came her way in the form of a fresh reality show named ‘Model Latina.’
The show began airing on ‘Sí TV’ in 2008. It had several aspiring models competing with each other in cultural and fashion challenges. Among all the contestants from all over the country, Jessica showed the best fighting spirit. Her presence of mind and fashion sense, combined with her wit, made her the winner of the first-ever ‘Model Latina’ contest.
The show turned her life around, and she soon became a nationally recognized face. ‘Latina,’ the American lifestyle magazine, did a special photo shoot for her. Jessica later stated that it was her dream since childhood to appear on the cover of ‘Latina.’ She later bagged a $10,000 contract with ‘Q Management,’ one of America’s leading modeling agencies. She was also featured on the covers of a number of national and international magazines.
With the ultimate hopes of becoming an actor, Jessica auditioned for the role of ‘Thea Gala Larson’ in the film ‘Are You for Great Sex?’ Despite the early criticism for being too bold, the film was appreciated for the fact that it was raw and honest. It was based on a true story, which enhanced the credibility of the film.
Jessica’s performance in the film was hugely appreciated and earned her a lot of awards and nominations. She won the award for the ‘Best Acting Performance in a Feature Film’ at the ‘Boston International Film Festival’ and the ‘Festival Award for Best Actress’ at the ‘Hoboken International Film Festival.’ Following a successful run at various film festivals, the film was given a somewhat good release in five countries. There are chances that the film will feature on ‘Netflix’ very soon.
Over the years, she has grown as a model. She has appeared in commercials for ‘Herbal Essences’ and ‘CHASE.’ She has also been featured on the cover of ‘Fuzion,’ a popular lifestyle magazine. She also appeared in the “Success Issue” of ‘Signature Hits,’ an entrepreneur lifestyle magazine.
She portrayed the role of ‘Sonia’ in four episodes of the series ‘Jane the Virgin.’ Her role spanned from 2016 to 2017. ‘Jane the Virgin’ happens to be one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed telenovelas of the decade.
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She attended the recently held 12th annual ‘Latin American Gala,’ which was organized by ‘The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families’ (CHCF). The event was special, as ‘CHCF’ was also celebrating its 30th anniversary. The event was held at ‘Cipriani Wall Street.’
‘CHCF’ is a non-profit organization that works toward the betterment of Latin-Americans. Jessica has also been associated with many other organizations that aim toward strengthening the poverty-stricken Latin-Americans living in the US.
She is also associated with the ‘NYC It Girls,’ which appreciates women in business. The project brings together women who believe in working together in harmony, as opposed to being known only by their male partners’ identities.
Personal Life
Jessica Caban began dating rapper Bruno Mars in 2012. The couple had met accidentally at a restaurant in New York, and Bruno had approached her first.
They did not reveal much about their relationship in the initial years. However, after winning an award at a recent ‘Grammy Award’ ceremony, Bruno Mars proclaimed his love for Jessica in front of the audience. Following this, the couple has been flaunting their intimate times together on ‘Instagram.’
The couple currently lives in the Hollywood Hills.
Facts About Jessica Caban
She is of Puerto Rican descent and has been an advocate for Latinx representation in the entertainment industry.
Jessica has a passion for fashion and often showcases her unique style on social media.
In addition to her acting and modeling career, she is also a dedicated philanthropist, supporting various charitable causes.
Jessica has a love for traveling and has shared her adventures with her followers on her social media platforms.
