Recognized primarily for her marriage to guitarist Chris Perez, Venessa Villanueva is also an accomplished American actress. Of Mexican heritage, Venessa was raised in Texas, where she met Chris Perez through a friend. Their relationship spanned eight years before they tied the knot, with Venessa providing strong support through Perez’s personal crises. Despite their eventual divorce in 2008, Perez continues to maintain a close bond with Selena’s family.
Who is Venessa Villanueva?
Born on American soil, Venessa Villanueva first came into the limelight as the spouse of the eminent guitarist, Chris Perez, who was a key member of the band Selena y Los Dinos. Perez’s romantic involvement with the band’s lead vocalist, Selena, was cut short due to her tragic murder.
Venessa Villanueva Net Worth
Accumulating wealth through her acting career and possibly her relationship with Perez, Venessa Villanueva’s net worth is estimated to exceed $100,000.
Delving Into Her Life and Profession
Venessa’s parents, of Mexican ethnicity, relocated to the US for better opportunities. Although her place of birth remains undisclosed, Venessa spent her growing years in Texas. Her life was fairly private until she met Chris Perez, a mutual acquaintance of their friend, John Garza. While Perez was grappling with depression, Venessa stood by him steadfastly, triggering a romantic connection between them.
They decided to get married in 2006 after eight years of companionship, but unfortunately, their marital relationship couldn’t handle the pressure and ended in divorce in 2008. Following their separation, Venessa threw herself into her acting career, featuring in several movies including “Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns” in 2011 and “Forgotten Memories” in 2015.
Getting to Know Ex-Spouse Chris Perez
Chris Perez, like Venessa, has Mexican roots. He was raised by a computer programmer father, and his parents separated when he was only five.
Perez began his journey into music with the French horn in school before transitioning to the electric guitar, motivated by bands like Iron Maiden, Kiss, Van Halen, and Def Leppard. At 17, he joined Shelly Lares’ band in 1986, which mainly focused on Tejano music. He later migrated to Selena y Los Dinos in 1989, where he developed a close relationship with the bass guitarist and contributed to the band’s significant popularity.
A very happy birthday to #chrisperez @ChrisGPerez! https://t.co/b05rWMhksr pic.twitter.com/5tCcts1zEW— World Music Awards (@WORLDMUSICAWARD) August 14, 2015
The Brief Success of Selena y Los Dinos and Life Thereafter
Selena’s individual talent began to shine, leading to her embarking on solo ventures. Despite her departure, the band had already made a mark in Texas, selling 80,000 copies of their music. Following Selena’s demise, after overcoming his grief, Perez resumed his music career, partnering with John Garza to form The Chris Perez Band. The group was signed by Hollywood Records, then moved to A&M Studios. They released their first album, which featured several songs as a tribute to the late Selena.
The album “Resurrection,” which won the coveted Grammy Award in 2000, was received with enthusiasm from music critics and fans alike.
One of his recent endeavors is a book titled “To Selena, With Love.” The book, approved and appreciated by Selena’s father, offers a poignant insight into his relationship and trials with Selena. The process of writing the book served as a cathartic journey for Perez, enabling him to progress in his life. He was lauded for his heartfelt narration. Besides his band, the Chris Perez Band, Perez also has another group known as The Chris Perez Project.
His Journey
Before Perez crossed paths with Villanueva, he was wedded to the renowned singer Selena, and they began their romantic journey a year after Perez was introduced to the band. Their relationship wasn’t initially supported by Selena’s father, but with time, Perez became a loved member of their family. They chose to elope and got married before Perez was officially accepted into the family. Following the tragic demise of Selena, Perez was engulfed by self-blame, believing he had failed to protect her. His remorse led to a loss of appetite, eventually spiraling into substance dependency. His life saw a ray of hope when he started dating Villanueva in 1998, and they tied the knot three years later.
They became parents to two children during their marriage. However, due to Perez’s continuous battle with alcohol and his neglect towards his family, their relationship began to sour by the mid-2000s. Despite Villanueva’s efforts to mend their relationship, she eventually decided that their problems were beyond repair. They parted ways in 2008. Post-divorce, Perez has committed himself to remember his first love, Selena, and he shares a close bond with her family to this day.
The Love Story of Vanessa Villanueva and Chris Perez: Their First Encounter
Vanessa Villanueva and Chris Perez were united in matrimony in a private ceremony in 2001, surrounded by their loved ones and closest friends. Their paths first crossed in the 90s, thanks to their mutual friend, John Garza. After their chance meeting, romance blossomed between them, which ultimately led to their marriage in 2001.
What Caused The End Of Their Marital Bliss?
Unfortunately, Vanessa and Chris’s marital journey hit a rough patch and they decided to part ways in 2008. It has been speculated that Perez’s struggles with substance abuse played a significant role in the dissolution of their marriage.
However, despite their past, they maintain a healthy relationship, especially for the sake of their children. Chris frequently shares pictures with his kids on social media, showing his close bond with them. Vanessa, on the other hand, seems to prefer a life out of the limelight, rarely making public appearances with her children.
The Pair Are Parents To Two Grown-Up Children
In December 1998, Vanessa and Chris welcomed their first child, a daughter named Cassie Gabrielle Perez, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Now 21, Cassie pursued her education at Del Mar College and later studied medical aesthetics at Paul Mitchell. Currently, she works as a medical aesthetician at Massage Envy and has been in a committed relationship with Mark Munoz since 2017.
In April 2005, the couple was blessed with their second child, a son named Noah Pérez. Unfortunately, Noah was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Despite this, the family continues to show support and love for each other.
