The oldest of three, Yarel grew up in SoCal and went to college at the University of Miami. She started the first Spanish-language television program at her school, interned at Telemundo and, in her spare time, taught aerobics. In 2006, she earned joint degrees in Broadcast Journalism and International Relations.

Now back on the West Coast, Yarel lives in Los Angeles where she’s pursuing a Master’s Degree in Media Management at the University of Southern California.