Cristina Saralegui: She never climbed by sleeping around; some choice words for detractors (PART II)
As we brought you yesterday in the
first part of our extensive, exclusive interview with
Cristina Saralegui, the Latino Oprah is counting down to her grand return to the small screen, after a year-long absence from being in front of the camera, on Telemundo.
While Cristina finalizes the details of the Sunday, October 9 debut of 'Pa'lante con Cristina,' the journalist tells us without mincing words about her long road to success, made longer by her refusal to ascend professionally by sleeping with executives.
Saralegui also elaborates on a major health concern, a hereditary form of arthritis that's managed to debilitate her and limit her ability to walk, and how she has overcome this great challenge.
AOL Latino: Did not sleeping around for professional gain make your road to success a longer, more costly, one?
Cristina Saralegui: Yes, because in our line of work there are many misguided young women who sleep with executives to get ahead professionally. It saddens me because as journalists we should not do that, nor charge or pay. But each to his own lunacy.
AOL Latino: In this year-long sabbatical from the small screen, have you given yourself family time?
Cristina Saralegui: Yes, we've had a year to be together. My son, the youngest, lives in Boston, and he wanted to come down to catch rehearsals and the first recordings. In the first show, my producers gave me a special on everything I've done this past year: my middle daughter's wedding, the birth of the fourth Cristina, who is 8 months old and walking, everything I've done personally and professionally.
AOL Latino: We've seen you walk with difficulty. How is your health?
Cristina Saralegui: I have a lot of arthritis. I limp quite a bit because walking a lot is laborious, but apart from that I'm just fine. The arthritis is hereditary; everyone in my family has it. My daughter, Titi worries about it. I understand [her worry] because I'm in a lot of pain. I'm starting some new exercises that I hope will help. I signed my contract with Telemundo, but after five years, once I finish this go-round, I want to retire and travel a bit with 'Marquitos,' just not so much for work as for pleasure -- and to be able to walk.
AOL Latino: Are you careful with your health, giving it proper attention?
Cristina Saralegui: Yes, I take care of myself because I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up. I think the most egregious error we professional women make is not to pay close enough attention to ourselves personally. You can't embrace a career when you retire, but you can embrace your family. It's too late if you remember having it when you're finished. Your professional and personal lives have to grow together.
AOL Latino: You love what you do; Do you really see yourself retiring?
Cristina Saralegui: The truth is I would like to. When they offered me this new job, I thought about it because I want to go on an Alaskan cruise. It's been many years of work. I'm executive producer of my show, which means that everything rests on me and is my responsibility. I really thought about it, but it was such a great opportunity that I just couldn't pass it up -- besides, I think our youth needs the example. So don't go thinking "Well, they wore the old lady out, they told her she was no good and she threw in the towel, she was old and tired." And guess what: Bull****! Because here I am being a nuisance. I'm leaving when I want to, and that must hold true for all of us.
Do you think that, after this run, Cristina should retire?
Scollature vertiginose e Madonna in guepière e calze a rete (FOTO)
Marisela la reina de NBL: "Voy a salvarle la vida a mi sobrina"…
Comments
(2)Add a comment
6 01 10
By Opinionada
Hard to believe that executives wanted to sleep with her??? Please... can Telemundo stop recycling bad Univision "personalities" that the public disliked? There are many talented and classy Latinos who could do a better job than her.
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2 11 10
By Nayra
I've always watched Cristina since she began on TV.
The shows I enjoyed the most were the ones where she would interview the people of la farandula, especially the telenovelas.
I also like singers and entertainers but I hope she does not focuses just on the young people for her new show and remembers that there are a lot of older people that probably watch the show more than the young ones.
I hope she focuses more on interviews, stories about angels, reincarnation, etc like when she had Dr. Weiss on her show and the important issues of life in general such as gay issues, medicare issues, etc. In other words informative programs more so than to have a rapper singing.
Then again that is my opinion and I am in my sixties - totally different interests than younger people :-)
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