Andrea Meza is a Mexican model, software engineer, beauty queen, and television host best known for winning the title of Miss Universe 2020 at the 69th annual pageant on May 16, 2021.
After her historic win, she went on to build a full-time career in U.S. Hispanic television, joining Telemundo as an entertainment host and later co-hosting two of its flagship daytime programs.
Who is Andrea Meza?
Andrea Meza’s full name is Alma Andrea Meza Carmona. She was born and raised in Chihuahua City, Mexico, and grew up as the eldest of three daughters.
Her father is Santiago Meza Chao, an industrial engineer, and her mother is Alma Carmona Jáquez.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and worked as a software engineer before stepping fully into the world of beauty pageants and media.
Beyond her pageant titles and television work, she is an activist who has worked closely with the Municipal Institute for Women in Chihuahua, an organization focused on ending gender-based violence.
Andrea is also the first openly vegan Miss Universe, and she serves as the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for her hometown of Chihuahua City.
She became the third Mexican woman to win the Miss Universe crown, following Lupita Jones in 1991 and Ximena Navarrete in 2010.
Early Life of Andrea Meza
Andrea Meza was born on August 13, 1994, in Chihuahua City, in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Her parents, Santiago Meza Chao and Alma Carmona Jáquez, raised her alongside her two younger sisters, Mariana Meza and Karen Meza. She is the eldest of the three daughters.
Her family has Chinese-Mexican heritage, with Chinese ancestry coming through her father’s side.
Growing up in Chihuahua City, Andrea attended school locally and was described as a shy child who had to work through social anxiety as she grew older.
She enrolled at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua after completing secondary school.
There she studied software engineering, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in March 2017.
After graduation, she began working at a company in Mexico as a software engineer while simultaneously pursuing modeling and pageant preparation.
Andrea Meza Age / Birthday
Andrea Meza is 32 years old as of 2026, born on August 13, 1994. Her zodiac sign is Leo, a sign associated with confidence, natural leadership, and a flair for the spotlight.
That combination has defined much of her public journey, from her early pageant wins to her current role as a television host.
Andrea Meza Ethnicity and Nationality
Andrea Meza is Mexican by nationality, born and raised in Chihuahua City, Mexico. Her ethnic background is Chinese-Mexican, with Chinese ancestry on her father’s side.
That heritage is part of a broader family story she has spoken about publicly, and it connects her to one of Mexico’s long-standing communities of Chinese descent.
Andrea Meza Height and Weight
Andrea Meza stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall, or 1.80 meters, which gave her a strong physical presence in international pageant competitions.
Her weight is reported at approximately 60 kg (132 lbs). She maintains a slim, athletic build through regular crossfit training and a vegan lifestyle.
Andrea Meza Education
Andrea attended the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH) in Chihuahua City, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering.
She graduated in March 2017 and was proud to complete a degree in a male-dominated field.
After graduation, she worked professionally as a software engineer in Mexico before her pageant career took full priority.
She has spoken publicly about the importance of her STEM education as a foundation for her advocacy work and public platform.
Andrea Meza Career
Andrea Meza began her pageant career in 2016 while still completing her university degree.
She entered and won the Miss Chihuahua 2016 title on March 25, 2016, at the Palacio de Gobierno de Chihuahua.
That win entered her into the inaugural Miss Mexico pageant, held on October 14, 2016, at Teatro Morelos in Morelia, Michoacán.
At that competition, two crowns were awarded. Ana Girault, representing Mexico City, received the Miss Mexico 2016 title to compete at Miss World 2016.
Andrea received the Miss Mexico 2017 crown, earning the right to represent Mexico at Miss World 2017. She also won the sports challenge at the competition.
Miss World 2017 and Early Career (2017)
As Miss Mexico 2017, Andrea represented her country at Miss World 2017, held on November 18, 2017, at Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China.
During the pre-pageant activities, she won Group 16 of the Head-to-Head Challenge, securing her direct entry into the top 40 contestants. She also placed as the fourth runner-up in the talent competition.
In the final, Andrea advanced all the way to the top five. Julia Morley announced her as the first runner-up behind the winner, Manushi Chhillar from India.
Andrea also received the title of Miss World Americas, placing her among the 2017 Miss World Continental Queens of Beauty.
That title established her name in international pageantry and laid the groundwork for her larger ambitions.
Mexicana Universal 2020 and Miss Universe 2020 (2020–2021)
In 2020, Andrea returned to competition. She won the Mexicana Universal Chihuahua 2020 title and went on to represent Chihuahua at Mexicana Universal 2020, held on November 29, 2020, in Querétaro City.
During the pre-pageant activities, she won six challenges, including the sports challenge. She advanced through the rounds and was crowned Mexicana Universal 2020.
That win qualified her to represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2020. The event had originally been scheduled for late 2020 but was postponed to May 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The final took place on May 16, 2021, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Andrea advanced from the initial pool of 74 contestants to the top 21, then the top ten, and finally the top five.
Outgoing titleholder Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa crowned her the winner. That victory made her the third Mexican woman to win the Miss Universe crown.
During her reign, she traveled to the United States, South Africa, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Israel, and Mexico as part of her official duties as Miss Universe.
She also set a record at the time for being the oldest winner in Miss Universe history, at 26 years and 276 days old. That record was later surpassed by R’Bonney Gabriel at Miss Universe 2022.
Television Career at Telemundo (2021–Present)
After completing her reign, Andrea joined Telemundo as an entertainment correspondent in December 2021.
By late 2022, she became a co-host on the network’s morning program Hoy Día, where she conducted celebrity interviews and contributed lifestyle segments on a weekday schedule.
She also co-hosted En Casa con Telemundo alongside Carlos Adyan, Irasema Torres, and other personalities, covering entertainment and lifestyle content for U.S. Hispanic audiences.
In June 2025, Telemundo announced she would join their reality competition Miss Universe Latina, El Reality as the captain of Team Ruby.
She mentored contestants competing for the inaugural Miss Universe Latina crown. That primetime role expanded her visibility on U.S. Spanish-language television significantly.
On August 11, 2025, Telemundo announced Andrea as the newest co-host of La Mesa Caliente, the network’s afternoon talk show, airing live weekdays.
She joined co-hosts Veronica Bastos, Karla Monroig, and Lindsay Casinelli on the panel-style discussion program covering current events, entertainment, and pop culture.
In November 2025, she also served as one of eleven judges on the selection committee at the 74th annual Miss Universe 2025 pageant, held in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Andrea Meza Awards and Recognition
Andrea Meza has collected a string of international pageant titles across her career.
- Miss Chihuahua 2016
- Miss Mexico 2017
- Miss World Americas 2017 (1st Runner-Up, Miss World 2017)
- Mexicana Universal Chihuahua 2020
- Mexicana Universal 2020
- Miss Universe 2020 (crowned May 16, 2021)
Her Miss Universe win made her the third Mexican to hold the title and the holder of what was then a record as the oldest contestant to win.
Andrea Meza Brand Endorsements
Andrea Meza founded her own activewear brand, Andrea Meza Activewear, which she promoted through her social media platforms and public appearances.
She serves as the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for Chihuahua City, a role she has held since her Miss Universe win.
She has also appeared in modeling campaigns and brand partnerships connected to her television and pageant work, including high-profile appearances at New York Fashion Week.
Her Mouawad-designed engagement ring, the same jeweler responsible for the Miss Universe crown, drew significant press attention when her engagement was announced in October 2023.
Andrea Meza Husband
Andrea Meza is married to Ryan Proctor, an American social media personality and television host.
The couple first connected in August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after meeting through TikTok and transitioning to daily conversations on Instagram.
For the first nine months of their relationship, they communicated entirely by video call before meeting in person.
Ryan proposed to Andrea in October 2023, on Fifth Avenue in New York City, with the support of his friends and in front of cameras from Telemundo’s morning show Hoy Día.
He used a pear-shaped diamond ring set in white gold with a pavé setting, made by Mouawad.
The couple originally planned their wedding for October 12, 2024, but postponed it after Hurricane Milton forced a change in plans.
They were married on January 11, 2025, in an intimate seaside civil ceremony at an exclusive beach club in Naples, Florida. Around 50 to 60 guests attended, including both families.
Andrea wore a gown by Dominican designer Luis Domínguez and a second emergency gown from the same designer when the weather required a change of outfit.
She wore her Miss World first runner-up tiara at the ceremony. After the wedding, the couple planned a honeymoon trip to Europe, which Andrea had not yet visited.
Andrea Meza Net Worth
Andrea Meza’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. Her income comes from several streams built over her career as a beauty queen, model, television host, and entrepreneur.
Television and Hosting
Her Telemundo career forms a significant part of her current earnings. She has co-hosted multiple network programs including Hoy Día, En Casa con Telemundo, and La Mesa Caliente, alongside her primetime role on Miss Universe Latina, El Reality in 2025.
Modeling and Brand Deals
Andrea’s modeling work includes campaigns and appearances tied to her pageant profile and her Telemundo platform.
Her appearances at events like New York Fashion Week and her social media partnerships with lifestyle and fashion brands add to her income.
She has also earned from endorsements connected to her role as Tourism Brand Ambassador for Chihuahua.
Entrepreneurship
Her activewear brand, Andrea Meza Activewear, represents her direct entrepreneurial venture.
The brand operates alongside her advocacy work and her public identity as a vegan athlete, giving it a defined audience among fitness-focused consumers.
Overall, Andrea’s income comes primarily from her Telemundo hosting roles and modeling contracts, supported by brand deals and her activewear business.
Andrea Meza Social Media
Andrea Meza is active on several platforms under her verified handles.
- Instagram: @andreamezamx
- Threads: @andreamezamx
- X (Twitter): @andreameza
She uses her platforms to share fitness content, lifestyle updates, and highlights from her television work, along with posts tied to her advocacy for gender equality and her vegan lifestyle.
Conclusion
Andrea Meza went from software engineer and local beauty queen in Chihuahua to Miss Universe title holder and full-time U.S. television personality within the span of a few years.
Her pivot from pageantry to a sustained career as a Telemundo co-host, reality show captain, and Miss Universe pageant judge shows the durability of the platform she built on May 16, 2021.