Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈʝana menˈdosa]; born 1 June 1986) is a Venezuelan actress, model, film producer, director, and beauty queen.

Dayana Mendoza, in 2012, participated in The Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by then real estate developer Donald Trump.

[5] She has worked with the companies Max Mara and Costume National, where she modeled in New York City, Italy, Germany, France, Greece, and Spain for Versace, Roberto Cavalli and other fashion designers over eight years.

Her prize package includes cash, a year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free prestigious New York City apartment, a luxury apartment, and a gift bag stuffed with designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a US$100,000 stipend for a two-year course at the New York Film Academy and free access to famous fashion houses and beauty parlors.

[14] As of June 2009, Mendoza as Miss Universe has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, France, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Bahamas, Russia, El Salvador, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Argentina, Romania, and Vietnam, in addition to numerous trips around the United States and her homecoming in Venezuela.

[15][16][17] On 23 August 2009, she crowned her successor, fellow Venezuelan Stefanía Fernández, at the Imperial Ballroom in Nassau, The Bahamas.

She also stated that when she visited the detainees camps, "...we saw the jails, where they shower, how they entertain themselves with movies, art classes, books.

[24] The Miss Universe Organization has replied that "...[her] comments on her blog were in reference to the hospitality she received while meeting the members of the U.S. Military and their families who are stationed in Guantánamo".

[25] Dayana Mendoza studied acting and cinema at New York Film Academy in the United States, thanks to a scholarship awarded by the Miss Universe Organization.

[29] Dayana participated in the famous reality show The Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump, where she interacted with personalities such as Lisa Lampanelli, George Takei, Clay Aiken and Debbie Gibson.

[34] Together with Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Mendoza was the goodwill ambassador of Venezuela-based technology firm Smartmatic to thank the Philippines for entrusting the company the success of their 2010 presidential elections.