Getting to know... SANTANA RODRIGUEZ

We get up close and personal with the stunning television host, model and fitness fanatic. Meet Hollywood's next multi-talented artist...

- MARTHA PHELAN

This month, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down with the incredibly talented model and fitness fanatic, Santana Rodriguez to get advice on exercise and nutrition. Coming from humble beginnings, this half Puerto Rican, half Brazilian bombshell from Buffalo, New York has made her mark in Hollywood, and she's only getting started. It's hard to put Santana in a box, or label her as one particular talent. She is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who has found success in multiple areas, including modelling, acting, producing, hosting and in the fitness world. Santana thrives on piecing projects together, and watching them fly. Her 10-episode TV series "Shaping up with Santana" was recently honoured with a GANAP Global Achievement Award for Best Fitness Television Series for 2021-2022, and Santana is extremely proud of what her and her team have accomplished. After working on the series for a few years, she is now getting the recognition she feels she deserves.

The series, which is an at home workout video collection was one of the very first of its kind to launch during the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. While we were all at home, gaining the quarantine 5kgs, Santana was on our screen helping us stay active, while having a bit of fun at the same time. The timing for the series couldn't have been better, as she was filming it before the pandemic hit, and had no idea how great the demand would become for at home work outs. It seemed to be divine intervention, and the dedication and persistence she showed truly paid off.

Initially, the show premiered on the Beach Channel in Miami, FL, but now you catch her series on Roku, Fire TV & Apple TV.

In this exclusive interview for MAXIM New Zealand, Santana tells us she is grateful for the success of her show, and gives us her top tips to staying fit and healthy.