Xuxa Biography

TV Personality

Maria da Graça "Xuxa" Meneghel is famous in Brazil as the host of a long series of popular variety shows for children. Xuxa was a teen model who later posed as a centerfold in the Brazil edition of Playboy (1982). That didn't stop her from becoming the unabashedly sexy host of her own children's TV shows, featuring Xuxa singing and dancing with her cadre of teen helpers (known as "Paquitas"), receiving visits from celebrities, and performing other colorful hijinks. An American version of her hit TV show lasted only one season, from 1993-94, but Xuxa has remained one of Brazil's wealthiest entertainers.

Extra credit: Her name is pronounced SHU-shah... Xuxa has one daughter, Sasha, born in 1998; the father is actor Luciano Szafir.... In 1991, a failed attempt to kidnap Xuxa near her studios in Brazil left two people dead... Xuxa dated Brazilian soccer legend Pelé in the 1980s; she later dated racecar driver Ayrton Senna.

Other children's TV hosts: Captain Kangaroo, Barney and Steve Burns.