INIHAYAG kahapon ni Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres na na-diagnose siya ng skin cancer.
Inihayag ito ng 44-anyos na Puerto Rican beauty titlist sa isang Instagram post.“As mothers we are always taking care of everyone around us... our kids, family, friends & often we forget to take care of ourselves;
“Today I have some sad news... I have been diagnosed with skin cancer ‘melanoma’ from a big spot/mole I never paid attention to, even though it was new, it had been growing for years & had an uneven surface;
“My fiancé Louis (D’Esposito) had been begging me to have it checked & finally made an appointment himself... after a biopsy & a second surgery last Tuesday the results unfortunately are positive.
“Now we are waiting to see which treatment I will be receiving but they have already removed a big area from the back of my knee & also they have removed 2 lymph nodes at the top of my leg where it had already spread. Hoping it has not spread to any more areas or organs.
“I have put everything in God’s hands & I know he has all control... My sons although a bit scared know about my faith and know they have a warrior of a mommy!”
“But if I can help anyone along the way based on my experience, it would be to tell you... PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself. If you see something or feel something different in your body have it checked... I had no idea skin cancer could spread anywhere else in your body,” post ni Dayanara.
Matatandaang sumikat sa Pilipinas at minahal ng mga Pinoy si Dayanara makaraan niyang koronahan si Sushmita Sen, ng India, sa Miss Universe 1994 beauty contest na idinaos sa Philippine International Convention Center sa Pasay City noong Mayo 20.
Nag-artista pa si Dayanara sa bansa, lumabas sa mga TV shows at pelikula, at pinaniniwalaang naging nobya ni Aga Muhlach, na nakatambal niya sa isang pelikula.
Nagbalik si Dayanara sa Puerto Rico at naging recording artist. Taong 2005 nang lumabas siya sa sikat na American soap na The Young and the Restless.
Taong 2000 naman nang ikasal si Dayanara sa pop Latin superstar na si Marc Anthony. Mayroon silang dalawang anak na lalaki, hanggang sa magkahiwalay noong 2002. Tuluyan siyang nagdiborsiyo taong 2004.
Nobyembre nang nakaraang taon nang ihayag ni Dayanara ang engagement niya sa Marvel film producer na si Louis D’Esposito.
-ROBERT R. REQUINTINA