Maripily has been on the cover of every spanish tabloid and a topic at every hispanic gossip show, way before she married and divorced former baseball player Roberto Alomar.  She has become the epitome of someone who knows how to make money off her fame, but we are not sure why she is famous to begin with.  Maripily Rivera is a Puerto Rican entrepreneur, model, TV personality and now, a contestant in the popular show ‘Mira Quién Baila’, the Latin version of 'Dancing with the Stars'.  With the support of her fans, she was one of the favorites to win and with the help of her haters, she didn’t.  That did not stop this voluptuous brunette from promoting and being part of the ‘Mira Quién Baila’ national tour.  She definitely knows how to dance away from those who love to hate her or hate to love her.

Entertainment Affair: Why do you think you are a pop culture phenomenon in Puerto Rico?
Maripily Rivera: I think the only phenomenon is God.  God gives you grace and you have to learn how to use it.  I don’t think I am a star.  Stars are in the sky.  I think of myself as a normal woman.

EA: You've had a love-hate relationship with the press.  Do you think the tabloids have been fair to you?
MR: The press has been fair to me in other countries.  In Puerto Rico, some media, not all of them, have tried to damage my career.  I leave it in God’s hands.  I feel blessed and I’ve learned how to make positive things out of negative things.  I think it's envy.

EA: You went to college to study journalism.  Why?
MR: I love journalism.  It is in my blood.  I couldn’t finish my studies like I’d wanted to because of my unexpected pregnancy and my mother’s death.  My studies have helped me to deal with the press and to understand the things that are being published about me.  I understand there is good journalism, bad press and gossip columns to sell magazines.

EA: What caught your attention in the entertainment industry?
MR: It has been in my blood since I was a little girl.  I think it comes from my mom.  She was a singer and a model.  My dad was a body builder.  My boy loves it too.  It is a family thing.

EA: You became famous because of your provocative way of showing your body in the popular show “No te duermas” and in your calendars.  Do you consider yourself a sex symbol?
MR: I don’t think of myself as a sex symbol.  I take care of my body.  I’ve enjoyed doing my calendars and working with little clothes in “No te duermas”.  But I’ve also done swimsuit modeling and I participated in the beauty pageant Miss Puerto Rico Petite.  I’ve done runways for different designers and music videos.

EA: Where does Maripily, the entrepreneur, come from?
MR: It comes from my career in entertainment.  I’ve made a name for myself and I wanted to invest my money because I am very aware that today you are the ‘it’ girl and tomorrow it's someone else.  I decided to launch my jeans brand and now it is very successful.  I also wanted to design not only for my body type, but for plus size women.  I know that even if you carry a little bit more weight, you want to look good and sexy.

EA: How was your experience working on ‘Mira Quien Baila’?
MR: Unforgettable.  It has helped me to be known in different countries in Latin America.  I didn’t know I could dance.  Dancing is in me.  I want to begin the tour because my body is asking for it.  I lived it, I enjoyed it.  It is even more pleasant when there are charities involved.  I could show the real me to the viewer.

EA: What can your fans expect from the national tour?
MR: They are going to see new dancing routines.  I am going to dance three times per show.  We are going to be performing in the most important theaters around continental US.  I am very excited and ready to see and dance with my fans.

EA: You’ve had conflicts with another contestant in the show.  Do you think you are sweet as candy for drama?
MR: I am sweet as candy for everything in life.  Good, bad, ugly, drama, two-faced people.  I am a happy woman and I believe God doesn’t put you in a situation that you can’t handle.

EA: Why do you think women react negatively towards you?
MR: Honestly, not all of them.  It is divided.  Many women write to me to ask me for my diet or a mom’s advice.  I don’t think women hate me, I think it is some sort of admiration with fury.  You want to be me, but can’t because you are frustrated, you are scared.  Instead of thinking, if she can do it I can be there too.  If I see a pretty woman, I let her know she is pretty or I tell them I want to be just like her.  I want to be like JLo or Kim Kardashian, but the Maripily version of them.

EA: There is a rumor going on that you are moving to Hollywood.  Is it true?
MR: If I get the chance to do some projects that I have in mind, I’ll do it.  I am working on my english.  I love Los Angeles.  I am taking my son to see if he likes it.  If he does, I’ll move later this year.  I can do it.  If you don’t move or take risks, you are not going anywhere.

EA: What’s next?
MR: Right now I have my own reality show ‘Maripily sin verguenza’.  It’s coming out in the summer.  I am launching my new calendar.  I am launching a catalog with all my designs.  I am also launching my tennis shoes line.  I have a lot of work.

EA: Do you have time to sleep?
MR: I sleep.  I don’t know how, but I do.  You can do everything if you get organized.  Sleep less and do more.  I’ll sleep later in life, maybe by the time I become a grandmother, I’ll sleep more.