Patricia Fuenmayor, Latina TV Journalist and Beloved Univision Voice, Dies at 51
The Latino community is mourning the loss of Patricia Fuenmayor, a proud Venezuelan journalist and beloved face of Spanish-language television in the U.S. Fuenmayor, who served as a correspondent for “Despierta América” in New York, died in the early hours of June 9 following a battle with cancer. She was 51 years old.
Her passing has left colleagues and viewers alike stunned. “These are news we don’t like to announce,” host Raúl González said somberly on air. “Early this morning, our friend and colleague, Patricia Fuenmayor, passed away.”
She is survived by her husband, renowned plastic surgeon Jorge Safar, and her two children, Sarah and Chini.
How Patricia Fuenmayor Became a Symbol of Latina Resilience on TV
Fuenmayor’s career began far from a New York City studio. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in 1978, she stepped into the spotlight as Miss Zulia at the 1997 Miss Venezuela pageant, where she placed in the Top 8. That appearance launched her into media. She would later represent Venezuela in Miss Sudamérica 1998 and go on to earn her journalism degree from Universidad Santa María in Caracas.
According to Univision, she began her career at Noticiero Venevisión as a weather presenter, later transitioning to radio host and sports reporter. In 2003, she became a presenter for E! Latin America and later created and hosted her own show, “De Boca en Boca,” on RCTV.
Then tragedy struck: her husband was kidnapped in Venezuela. The traumatic incident pushed her to leave the country in search of safety and a future for her children. That new chapter began in New York.
Patricia Fuenmayor Rebuilt Her Life and Career in New York
Reinvention wasn’t easy. Fuenmayor told Raúl González in an interview that Univision 41 initially turned her away. “I remember leaving feeling down,” she recalled. Fuenmayor said she arrived at the central station and got on that train at around 10 p.m. “I cried until I was exhausted.”
A year later, Univision New York called her for a new project: “Edición Digital Nueva York.” She got the job.
From 2017 onward, Fuenmayor became a trusted voice for Spanish-speaking audiences in the tri-state area. Eventually, she joined “Despierta América” as a correspondent. The show’s producers described her as “A passionate woman, professional and always dedicated to her work as a journalist.”
Patricia Fuenmayor Made Latina Moms Feel Seen
Through her public presence, Fuenmayor celebrated her most personal identity: being a mother. In a 2024 Mother’s Day post on Instagram, she wrote, “You are the best thing I have ever done in my life. Thank you for choosing me as your mom. With you and for you, the impossible becomes possible.”
Her warmth resonated with followers—over 200,000 on Instagram—and her final post in February 2025 was a simple but poignant message to her husband: “Te amo.”
Friends and Colleagues Remember Patricia Fuenmayor With Love
The outpouring of love after her passing has been immediate and heartfelt. Univision journalist Elyangélica González wrote, “What a terrible loss, Patricia! May God welcome you into His holy glory… Rest in peace.”
Former Univision host Maity Interiano added, “It was a real pleasure to meet you and spend time with you. May the Lord welcome you and watch over your family from heaven.”
Her story is more than a career in media. It’s about overcoming fear, displacement, and personal trauma while continuing to inform and uplift a community.
