Lick Magazine met with Maria Conchita Alonso (Internationally known Actress, Activist and Singer/Songwriter), along with Carmen Diaz (Pet Fashionista and Lick Cover star/Spring 2016 Edition) at Cafe Roma Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California for a little brunch and talk about Maria’s life, love and activism for pets.. Lick Magazine had known “Maria Conchita” per her American reputation.. One “hot” tamale, a gorgeous and talented hispanic actress.. But upon further examination we learned so much more.. It is an honor to have Maria in the pages of Lick Magazine. Barbara: I am blown away by “Maria Conchita” not just Maria the “beauty” but “Maria” the “person”. I found out that you were born in Cuba and your family left when you were a child because of the Revolution. You went through alot at an early age. “Do you have a recollection of your early beginnings and childhood in Cuba?” MC: I was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba. I only remember what my parents used to tell me and what I have seen in the home videos my father loved to take. My mom told me I was very independent and that I liked to be alone. I would grab my tricycle and I would pedal away... the neighbors used to call my mom to let her know I was passing by their homes. Going where? Who knows! But I do remember we were a happy family. We moved to Venezuela when I was almost 5 years old. My two brothers, a dog and 15 suitcases... My parents were hard working people and when I was 13, they opened the first spa/gym, (kind of like a private club) in the country. Barbara: Where did your diverse love of “the arts” emanate from? Where did it all start? MC: I was singing and dancing since I was a kid! I used to play with dolls and do all the voices, the dads, mom, grandparents and children. At 4, I was given piano lessons (I still don't know how to play), and was in the play “Nutcracker” as a little mouse, after that came ballet, jazz, voice, guitar and flamenco. I would tell my mom, “Look, I can cry when I want!” And I would start crying... One of my aunt’s on my mom’s side sang opera (that wasn’t her career), the other was a piano player. I was born an artist, I have it in my blood. It was and will always be my passion. I was 15 when I became Miss Teenage Venezuela winning the Miss Teenage of the World in Portugal, then I became a model. My parents sent me to a finishing school in Montreux, Switzerland (they wanted me to marry a Prince, which I did not! haha). After school, I lived for a couple of months with my mom in Paris and then went back to Venezuela to continue modeling. A year later, I represented Venezuela in the Miss World Pageant in London and ended up in 6th runner up position (being 2nd favorite since my arrival, but nerves made me eat and I gained one size!). Then I lived in Spain and Paris, just having fun. When I went back home my modeling career continued together with acting and singing. I worked on various plays, 11 soap operas and recorded my first 2 “albums” in Venezuela. Both singles the record label launched became #1 hits! I moved to L.A. got signed by A&M Records and my international career as a singer began along with my “Hollywood dream”!
Barbara: You are quite the activist .. Do you think your roots and the love of freedom and democracy started way back in childhood or in your teen years in Venezuela? MC: Yes, the first years of exile my family talked politics non stop. I remember when I was around 7 years old people used to gather in our house planning a Cuban “invasion” to take Castro out of power... The men on one side, the women on the other sewing the clothes they were going to wear, but it never happened. I am not sure why but I believe the money that was needed never materialized... So yes, I grew up in a free and democratic environment, at home and out, and was taught that NO ONE has the right to control your life, nor tell you what to do. That is what I have always fought for and I still fight for today! Barbara: Did you ever dream that you would hold major world beauty titles in Venezuela and later world acclaim? How did this chapter of your life start? MC: One of my brother’s had a girlfriend at the time. She was Miss Venezuela. Knowing that I wanted to be a singer and actress, she told me the easiest way to my dream was by participating in beauty pageants. And she was right... I have never been a person who believes that outer beauty is the most important thing. I was never concerned about always looking good. In fact, I didn’t care. I won pageants not because I was the prettiest, although my looks helped... I won perhaps because I was the one that had the best personality, the most fun, funny, approachable, and also intelligent... all those things are “more important” to me than exterior beauty. And I believe these attributes grow and become more powerful as one ages. Barbara: Since you have been successful in multiple arenas from Beauty to Music to Acting (film, tv, broadway) and more-Tell us about the most exciting highlights in your career.. MC: I don’t think there are enough pages in this or any magazine to share them. I am lucky! But I could say that every time I achieved a goal, that was a career highlight. Barbara: You were actually a musical sensation as far back as the late 70’s with “Love Maniac” and “The Witch” How did you make the transition from the pageant runway to music sensation? MC: In Venezuela, many celebrities come from beauty pageants, so it was a simple and easy transition. First I became a beauty queen. Then I did my first soap opera and launched my first single which stayed number one for months. Since I became so well known, the record label decided to create a unique marketing plan to launch my song under a different name creating expectation and curiosity, and it worked! “Love Maniac” was a disco song recorded in English and promoted under the name of A’mbar. Venezuelans found out two weeks later that A’mbar was “me”.. Barbara: You were also featured in movies like “Moscow on the Hudson” with the late beloved Robin Williams, “Extreme Prejudice,” “Predator 2” .. And you have starred on Broadway in “Kiss of the Spider Woman”. Is there anything “creative” “Maria” hasn’t conquered.