Esmeralda Ugalde

About Esmeralda Ugalde

Nelva Esmeralda Ugalde González (born October 27, 1991, in Río Verde, San Luis Potosí, Mexico), known professionally as Esmeralda Ugalde, is a Mexican television presenter, actress and singer. She is the younger half-sister of renowned Mexican singer Ana Bárbara, sharing the same father, Antero Ugalde.
Ugalde rose to fame in 2010 when she won the first place in the musical reality show La Academia Bicentenario on TV Azteca, becoming the first winner of the competition's revamped format. Her victory launched her career in the entertainment industry, leading to the release of her debut album Por ti in 2010, which included songs such as "Y es por eso," "La única que te Entiende," "Será amor," "Como Duele" and "De aquí a la eternidad."
Following her success in music, Ugalde expanded into acting, studying at TV Azteca's artistic training school. She appeared in telenovelas including La Otra Cara del Alma (2012), Siempre tuya Acapulco (2014, playing Vanessa) and television series such as Lo que callamos las mujeres and Como dice el dicho. In 2017, she released her album Te quiero.
Ugalde has also participated in reality competition shows, including Exatlón México (2019, season 3). Her primary professional development on television has been as a host. She has anchored Corazón grupero, a program focused on regional Mexican music, and has hosted events such as the Premios de la Radio in 2021. She previously worked as a host on La Academia and later joined Venga la Alegría, TV Azteca's morning show, where she continued her career in television hosting after announcing her departure from La Academia in 2024.
In her personal life, Ugalde has been in a relationship with Venezuelan singer Johnny Sigal since November 18, 2010. The couple has maintained their relationship for over a decade and released a musical collaboration titled Only you in February 2021. She maintains an active social media presence with over 1.1 million followers on Instagram under the handle @esmeoficial.