Miriam Rivera was a transgender model and reality TV star who tragically passed away at the age of 38. She was best known for her appearance in There’s Something About Miriam, a reality TV dating show that ran from February 22, 2004 to March 24, 2004.
According to Variety, Miriam Rivera’s death was a perplexing affair. Reports suggest that officials found her body in her apartment, where she had taken her own life by hanging herself. However, her husband Daniel Cuervo suspects that there was foul play involved in her death.
A recent Glamor Magazine report suggested that Britain’s Channel 4 will release a documentary about Miriam Rivera later this month. Titled Miriam: Death of a Reality Star, this documentary will showcase the deceased model’s extraordinary life, career, and tragic passing. According to Channel 4’s official website, the upcoming documentary’s synopsis reads, “2003 – a British reality show firebombs the life of beautiful model Miriam Rivera. The story of one of the most controversial TV events of the last 20 years and the questions that remain unanswered.”
Miriam: Death of a Reality Star will come out on Channel 4 on April 29, 2024.
How was Miriam Rivera’s early life?
Miriam Rivera was born in Mexico in 1981 as a biological male. Interestingly, at a very young age, she began displaying signs of gender dysphoria. While her three brothers enjoyed playing physical sports such as Basketball, Rivera found happiness playing with Barbie dolls. In addition, she once stated that strangers generally believed that she was a girl. Sometimes, they told her mother that Miriam was a beautiful girl, however, she used to correct them by revealing that the future transgender model was a boy. Upon hearing this, Miriam used to get furious.
Eventually, Rivera began taking hormones to transform her appearance. At the age of 12, her school suspended her, and this is when she decided to come out. Thankfully, her family was supportive of her decision.
Miriam Rivera soon began performing in a girl band until British television producer Remy Blumenfeld spotted her. Blumenfeld then decided to cast her on the reality TV show, There’s Something About Miriam.
There’s Something About Miriam and guest appearance in Big Brother Australia 2004
The filming of There’s Something About Miriam took place in Ibiza in 2003, however, it did not air until the year after. Reports suggest that this delay occurred due to some legal issues.
There’s Something About Miriam began airing on Sky1 in February 2004. Its format involved six men trying to court Rivera, unaware of the fact that she was born a male. Eventually, she revealed the truth in the very last episode. The host of There’s Something About Miriam was Tim Vincent, who is best known for presenting many Miss World contests.
The aforementioned reality show made Miriam immensely popular and this led to her appearing in Big Brother Australia 2004 as a guest. Around this time, there were plans to create a documentary about her, unfortunately, it did not air on television.
Reports suggest that Miriam Rivera fell out of a fourth-story window while trying to get away from a burglar. She was married to Daniel Cuervo, and the couple lived in New York City. Her body was found in her apartment in Mexico on February 5, 2019.