[3] Born to a Swiss father and a Peruvian mother, she won the title of Miss Universe 1957 in Long Beach, California, United States.

After being crowned, it was revealed that she was only 17 years old, a few months under the contest's minimum age requirement.

Zender married Antonio Meier in 1965, and secluded herself into a family life; they had four children together.

Their son, Christian Meier, is a well-known actor and singer in Peru and has achieved some fame in other Latin American countries.

In 2003, Zender allowed Caretas to photograph her (and Meier's) home showcasing various artifacts, including a collection of Incan art the couple have acquired through their years together.