Maria Conchita Alonso was born to parents Ricardo Alonso and Conchita Bustillo. At age 5, Maria and her parentsmoved to Venezuela. Shestarted her career by being in pageants. Maria was first crowned Miss Teenager of the World in 1971, thenMiss Venezuela in 1975. She then became a popular actress in Latin America by working in novelas (soap operas) and various movies. In 1982, she emigrated to the United States of America and debuted into the American screens in 1984.