Sandra Zaiter

Sandra Zaiter, born in 1943, is a well known television children's show host in Puerto Rico. She is also a singer and composer. Zaiter is one of the many of Lebanese Maronite Christian ancestry. Early in her life she participated in church groups, and established her residence in Puerto Rico. Zaiter, participated in the Puerto Rican production of Arriba la Gente. She soon started her television career formally by hosting the Puerto Rican version of Romper Room on WRIK-TV, channel 7, then called, Rikavisión.

Zaiter was also a professional diver and swimmer, until she suffered a life threatening accident in the 1970s, when she hit her head against a rock in a dive in a beach in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The accident left her paralyzed, and since then she's in a wheelchair.

In 1976, she won the local OTI Festival in Telemundo, as a composer.

Even though her life changing accident, however, she continued hosting her children's shows with more energy than ever. During the late 1970s, Zaiter's fame aroused, as she started recording, as a singer, many well known children's albums, and hosted a daily television show on WRIK "Rikalandia" / WLUZ. It was on air, until channel 7 closed its doors temporarily.

Zaiter later moved on to WKAQ-TV, Telemundo, where she starred, produced, wrote, and hosted alongside Lou Briel, a unique children's show called Teatrimundo, alongside Dagmar & Pollito Yito, and later Telecómicas, until a few years ago.

Sandra, is the speaker for the MDA in Puerto Rico and an important sponsor of the association's Telethon. Zaiter is acknowledged by most Puerto Ricans, as a hero.

As the 1990s came about, the Puerto Rican actress and producer, Angela Meyer, wrote and produced a drama mini-series titled "Gaviota de la Esperanza"(The Hope Seagull), based on the life of Zaiter and broadcast by Telemundo.

Presently, she hosts a weekly show called, "Contra Viento y Marea" (Against Wind and Tide}, broadcast by "Tu Universo Televisión", WIPR-TV. Its purpose is to give guidance and assistance to the handicapped. She does public appearances, especially in the yearly presentation of the Sandra Zaiter Award to those who have distinguished themselves helping the handicapped.

As a beautiful surprise to Zaiter, one of Telemundo's Studios in Puerto Rico, was named after her, during the birth of the mid-day show, Día a Día con Raymond y Dagmar, in 2007.

ee also

*List of people from Puerto Rico
*List of television presenters/Puerto Rico
*List of composers by nationality
*List of people from Lebanon