[1] Santiago graduated from South Dade Senior High School and attended the University of Miami on a scholarship, majoring in psychology.
[1] Santiago joined the company of regional summer stock theater Timber Lake Playhouse, Mount Carroll, Illinois, performing many roles, including Maria in West Side Story in the 1980 season.
In the 1990s, Santiago appeared in a number of made-for-television movies, including The Cosby Mysteries (1994) and To Sir, with Love II (1996) opposite Sidney Poitier.
[5] In 1999, Santiago joined the cast of the long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light, playing crime boss Carmen Santos.
In 2004, Santiago joined the cast of the ABC soap opera One Life to Live in the role of Isabella Santi/Angelina Parades after leaving Guiding Light.