Interview: Dayana Mendoza On 'Celebrity Apprentice' And Her Post Miss Universe Life

By Zuania Ramos

After making history by becoming the fifth Venezuelan to be crowned the world's most beautiful woman, earning the title of Miss Universe and taking in a glorious holiday vacation with her boyfriend in New Jersey, Dayana Mendoza returns to promote her projects for 2012.

The first is her participation in magnate Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice,' where she'll showcase her business acumen with Latin American pride.

In an interview with Dayana, the Venezuelan beauty shares insightful details about her life after her Miss Universe coronation, including what went wrong that left her depressed:

AOL Latino: How does it feel to participate in 'Celebrity Apprentice' and once again work with the Trump family?

DM: I feel that since Miss Universe, I haven't stopped working with the Trump family, especially with the opportunity they gave me to stay in the United States and work with Trump Models. Now I'm continuing with 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which has been one of the greatest opportunities I've achieved.

AOL Latino: How does it feel to represent Latinos in this opportunity?

DM: Two of us Venezuelans are representing Latinos on the show, Patricia Velasquez and me. I feel a great sense of pride because we're women forging a difference. We Latinos have been identified and categorized by stereotypes, and the idea is for both of us to show that, yes, we did come to this country to work and do things with heart and honesty. On this occasion I'm also happy to continue collaborating with the Latino Commission on Aids, which provides assistance to Hispanic AIDS patients.

AOL Latino: How did the invitation come about?

DM: It came during a conversation with Mr. Trump. I stopped by his office to say hello and he spoke to me about the program. I wasn't sure it was something I wanted to do because I have seen it in the past and knew that it was very strong, very intense, so I wasn't sure. But in the end I decided to do it because it's for a worthy cause.

AOL Latino: What is your strategy to win on the show?

DM: Mine was to approach it serenely, honestly and work. I didn't have a single strategy because it's an extremely competitive game in which you have to remove someone to stay in it yourself, so participants work differently and all have a distinct end on the show. There are many personalities one deals with, so in the end it is much improvised because you never know how another person will react under pressure.

AOL Latino: How has it been to enter the Anglo market?

DM: It is interesting because one already knows what a Latino is like and how he/she works, but now I'm learning how things operate in the Anglo world. My goal is to educate people and show what Latin Americans truly are, and that we just didn't show up if it wasn't for our culture and to achieve and do the best we can for our families -- we came to work. I want people to understand that our culture is like any other, we just have to merge.

AOL Latino: How has your life changed since Miss Universe?

DM: After Miss Universe I studied acting for a year and a half, and it left me very depressed about school. I felt I wasn't learning enough nor working enough because I was stuck there all week. It felt like slavery and I was depressed because the school didn't compel me or hold my attention enough. So I left to Germany for two months to clear my mind and work. From there I returned to the United States, and I've been working as a model, doing commercials and promotional campaigns until now. I'm taking things slowly, though immediately after I got back I was offered this opportunity.

AOL Latino: Do you have anything lined up after the show, or are you looking for something in particular?

DM: There are things I want to do, but I don't know where to start or what to do first. Once [the show] airs, I want to prioritize opportunities and personal goals ... I only want to do what I like, work and be OK. The funny part is that one is good when stable and stability is love, work and family. And for us Latinas, it is more difficult at times because we've got one thing going here, another there -- the ideal is to have it all.

AOL Latino: How does it feel to be an icon at such a young age?

DM: I'm very flattered and honored. I simply hope that people understand who I am as a person. I've never wanted to portray an image of what I'm not. I've always been very spontaneous, but I'm still the same person. Being a beauty queen is a great opportunity, but it isn't a career. Very simply it is an opportunity one enjoys, but there has to be a Plan B, you have to go to school and you have to work. It is wonderful to live out your dream, but I would like people to know that I'm a human being like anyone else.

'Celebrity Apprentice' airs on NBC Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. (EST).

Tags AOL Latino, aol latino in Blogamole, Celebrity Apprentice, Dayana Mendoza, donald trump, Miss Universe, Patricia Velazquez