Most Beautiful 2024: A New Era

Ricky Martin

For his 50th birthday, PEOPLE invited Ricky Martin to re-create a December 2000 cover that featured him at the height of music's Latin Explosion. “On that cover, I was 28. At that age I had had a lot of experiences [because] I started [my career at the age of] 12,” says the Puerto Rican superstar, 52. "I see that Ricky, happy about what he’s achieved, but with lots of fears that only my inner circle knew about. Thanks to what I’ve learned, to everything I’ve experienced, to my passion for this career, to being able to accept myself and live my life the way I am, I'm still able to keep doing what I love most 40 years later.”

With a career that has left its mark on pop culture—his “Livin’ La Vida Loca” is in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry—the Puerto Rican father of four isn’t stopping. After starring in Palm Royale (Apple TV+), he’s getting ready for a new series of summer concerts in Spain. What else is on his wish list? “I would love for the next thing to be movies.” —Mayra Mangal

Adamari López

Adamari López views beauty very differently today than she did when she was younger. “Before it was more about the physical: what I’m going to wear, how I’m going to look. Now, more and more, I allow what I’m like to come through. On my social media I share a lot of things without makeup, very natural. When I’m working, I do my hair and makeup, but if it was up to me, I would skip the [false] eyelashes,” she says. So much so that a few months ago, she decided to host her television show Desiguales (Univision) sans makeup. “I no longer attach so much importance to that.”

At 53, her priorities have changed. “How I want to keep growing is by trying to be a good human being, doing things better, learning from my mistakes, continuing to enjoy life, things that make me lighter in life.” What hasn’t changed is her passion for her work. “I’m going through a stage of professional growth,” says López, who hosts UniMás' game show ¿Quién caerá? She also has her own gig on YouTube alongside bestie Chiquibaby, Ada y Chiqui de show. “I thought I was going to be on the show I had [on Telemundo] for many more years; then my life changed. But it gave me the chance to continue growing, and I continue to develop as a host and set new goals.”

Starting a new relationship is not on her to-do list, at least not right now. “I’m very much enjoying my time with myself, my time with my daughter [Alaïa], who I wanted so badly,” says the Puerto Rican actress. “I’m not closed to the idea of love, but I’m not stuck on the idea that it has to happen now. I don’t want to rush anything. Just as my little girl came along when God decided it was time, God will also decide when a relationship will come along.” -Moisés González

Clovis Nienow

Clovis Nienow never imagined the love that fans of La casa de los famosos would send his way once the Telemundo reality show aired. “I’m grateful, because all I did was be myself, put my heart into it, bring joy to La casa,” he says. While his success was sudden and extreme, the Mexican actor knew how to handle it without losing his humility. “Thank God I have the education and principles that I got from my parents.” At 31, he's very clear about where he comes from, where he wants to go and, above all, what he wants to convey to people. “I want to be a positive example for society,” says Nienow, who hasn’t shied away from raising awareness about depression and anxiety, both of which he has suffered. “It happened to me because of two big blows in my life: the deaths of my parents. But right now, at this moment, I’m happy because I know they’re proud of me in heaven, and that they’re supporting and guiding me,” he says. “To all the people who suffer from these things, I understand them and all I can tell them is ‘Courage. Keep moving forward. There’s nothing wrong with that.’”

Since the reality show wrapped, Nienow has received endless job offers. “I’ve been offered shows, realities, brands, all kinds of things,” he says. For now, he'll focus on hosting and acting. “Eight years ago, I trained as an actor and host, and then I left that line of work and got into reality shows,” he says. Would he consider participating in the all-star edition of La casa de los famosos, set to premiere on Telemundo in 2025? “It depends on how my life is going, because that reality show isn’t until next year. I’m open to it.” —M.G.

Maripily Rivera

Like the astute businesswoman she is, Maripily Rivera knows how to take full advantage of the peak of fame she’s experiencing. “[Maripily] came back to life; I’m a new woman,” says the Puerto Rican entertainer, whose popularity has skyrocketed since she was crowned the winner of season four of Telemundo’s reality show La casa de los famosos. “It’s worth it: crying, falling, suffering. Because I came back to life like the Phoenix.”

And nobody is going to clip her wings. “I want to do so many things in life,” says Rivera, who is also a model and known by her nickname, 'the Puerto Rican Hurricane'. “I’ve been through very hard situations, [I’m] a fighter who has a son. I’m a woman who can do anything.” Something else she knows: her fighting spirit will never cancel love. “The hardest thing is having a stable relationship with a man who values me,” says the entrepreneur who hasn’t lost hope she'll find a partner to share her life. “I need someone who’s a real man, and that hasn’t been easy.” –Carole Joseph

Angélica Vale

“Being happy is a decision that you make every day,” says Angélica Vale, who hosted the musical competition Juego de voces and co-hosted Univision's Premio Lo Nuestro this year. “I’m very happy with the person I am today, so I'm grateful for everything that has happened to me, good and bad,” adds the Mexican actress and comedian, 48, and mom to Daniel and Angélica Massiel. “I’m with my kids and I’m the happiest woman on the planet."

While she’s stunned many with her physical transformation this year, her weight loss didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of controlling her hormones, changing her diet and exercising more, says the host of Cali 93.9's La Vale Show, a radio program in Southern California. “It took me a year and four months to lose the weight and be comfortable with myself again. I’m back!” —Lena Hansen

Carolina Sandoval

“It’s no secret that I love communicating,” says Carolina Sandoval, who surprised everyone with her return to Univision in May as a panelist on ¡Siéntese quien pueda!, four years after her abrupt exit from the network's Suelta la sopa show. “I’m very happy and I can’t hide it,” she says of her return to the small screen, which she will juggle with her podcast, her Fuertes y fabulosas talks and growing as an entrepreneur.

Sandoval is also planning on writing a third book. “I relate happiness to beauty,” says the 50-year-old Venezuelan influencer, who shares with millions of her followers her love for her family, her curves and papayas, a fruit she credits for her weight loss. For the “girdle queen” —as she’s known for the videos she posts of herself trying on these undergarments— what people say about her doesn't keep her up at night. “What should matter is what God is going to care about when it’s time to settle accounts. I sleep well; I’m happy.” -L.H.

Noelia Voigt

Noelia Voight made headlines when she unexpectedly resigned as Miss USA in a statement citing her need to prioritize her mental health. Surprise turned to shock when Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava followed in her footsteps for the same reason, leaving the longstanding pageant group without its top titleholders for the first time in its 72-year history —and starting a debate about its practices.

The decision to give up her “childhood dream” was hard for Voigt, but the model of Venezuelan descent shows no signs of regret. “Three qualities [that make me feel beautiful] are my confidence that I know who I am, and am proud of it; my ability to connect with people, to be compassionate and empathetic with others; and to accept my origin, my multicultural DNA,” she says of her solid family roots.

As for her future, the 24-year-old is currently exploring options in media. She also hasn't ruled out doing modeling work, starting a business or writing a book. “The possibilities are endless.” —Leonela Taveras

Chiquis

The Mexican-American singer, writer and entrepreneur raised eyebrows this year with the release of Diamantes, her fifth studio album. Her fans didn't just react to her new music, the stunning transformation that came along with it also captivated them. “It’s what a diamond represents: brilliance, strength, power. A diamond [is formed] over many years, under great pressure, and I don’t think I’m the only one who can understand that,” says 38-year-old Chiquis, who hosts the podcast Chiquis and Chill.

The analogy is especially valid for someone who has survived tragedies like the sudden death of her mother, singer Jenni Rivera, and the recent loss of a pregnancy. But things are looking up, both personally and professionally. This weekend, Chiquis married her partner Emilio Sánchez in a Las Vegas wedding surrounded by her siblings and others loved ones. Her most recent album, Abeja reina, earned her a second Latin GRAMMY and her first GRAMMY nomination. She’s now getting ready for the summer premiere of her ViX series Chiquis sin filtro and her Diamantes Tour, which will take her to 11 U.S. cities and Mexico. —M.M

Karla Monroig

Karla Monroig doesn’t need praise to feel beautiful. "I had to do a lot of work to connect with my self-love," says the Puerto Rican actress, 45, who was picked in an online poll by People en Español readers to be on this year's list after her friend, actress Adamari López, nominated her. “Now, taking care of myself makes me feel beautiful.”

Professionally, Monroig has kept busy guest co-hosting shows like Despierta América (Univision) and La mesa caliente (Telemundo). “I really enjoy hosting TV programs. I want to return to acting and I hope I can do a drama project with Adamari. I would love to do series," says the actress, who has a daughter, Amanda, with singer and husband Tommy Torres. Her own quest for physical and emotional health has led her to find a new mission in life. “I would love to develop more as a coach to help other women in their processes of personal growth and healing,” she says. “You must never stop dreaming and having purpose, new goals.” —L.H.

Carlos Calderón

Believe it or not, when Carlos Calderón got the call to join Telemundo's national morning show Hoy Día, the 49-year-old Mexican TV host had to think about it. "It was hard for me to go back," admits Calderón, a former architect, who had come to enjoy his time away from the cameras when the offer came knocking. "During that period we invented [the skincare line] Gelato For Your Face, I became a dad, and when I got this offer, I had my doubts," adds the host of the podcast The Carlos Calderón Show. "I didn't see it as 'I'm never going to be anywhere'," the Emmy-winner reflects about leaving Univision in January 2023 after 23 years at the network. "But in some weird way I missed that dynamic [of television, of] cheering up, empowering, informing."

Back in the saddle, he plans to venture into the English-language market, but on his own terms. "You can never give up. You have to move forward, with gallantry and humility," says the proud dad of León, his son with actress and model Vanessa Lyon. —M.M.

Alejandro Chabán

At age 42, Alejandro Chabán  knows what he wants. “All the projects I'm involved with are to be free, to create, to add. Before there was a need to impress and make myself noticed. Now my need is to contribute, to build as a team, to enjoy the journey," he says. "After more than a decade with YesYouCan!, of touching the hearts of thousands of Hispanics and knowing their stories, today I want to continue to add value to our community through tools with a purpose." 

One of those tools is his Chabán Podcast. “I was looking for platforms in Spanish to nourish my body, my soul and my mind, where I could learn about the stories of success and failure of people whose journeys I admired," says the the Venezuelan actor, host and businessman. "I wanted to create a safe place to grow together and share experiences, without judgments or labels." 

On his podcast, he interviews celebrities like Francisca, Jacky Bracamontes, Gaby Espino and Myrka Dellanos, as well as therapists, motivators and even his own father. “The podcast is an emotional exercise because one day I could talk to my dad about my childhood and then with a therapist about the fear of aging. Those contrasts make all my guests special," he says. At this stage in his life, his dreams have changed too. "Today my dream is to feel healthy physically and mentally, to have peace, to detach from what distracts me from what is truly important: being happy and making my people happy." —M.G.