Since the NBC network owns the Telemundo company, executives at NBC decided that it would be a good idea for Arrarás to be a panelist for the candidates' debate during the 'Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum' in 2004. On May of that year, Arrarás was honored by the displaying of a plaque with her name and hand-prints on it in Mexico City's Paseo de los Grandes (Walk of the Great Ones). In April 2003, Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin let Arrarás have the first interview that he had done in Spanish in two years. That same year Arrarás tried her hand at acting by appearing in two episodes of the American soap opera Passions in November 2002, in which she played herself. Her new show was named Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste. In 2002, Arrarás moved to the Telemundo USA network to work as the anchor woman in a new television program that would replace her former competitor, Ocurrio Asi. Along with her co-anchor Myrka Dellanos, she would continue to hold that position until 2002 when she left the show and the network. Her work there drew the attention of the executives of the Univision network, who decided to hire her in 1994 as the co-anchor of their Miami, Florida based television news program, Primer Impacto.

In 1986, she was hired by the New York Telemundo affiliate WNJU as a reporter. Īrrarás began her broadcasting career when she was employed by local Puerto Rican television station Canal 24 (Channel 24) as a reporter.

When she reached the age of 20, Arrarás attended Loyola University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she majored in communications and public relations.

Īt age 18, she represented Mayagüez in 1979 at the Miss Puerto Rico pageant where she placed 1st runner up in the competition. She had hopes of competing at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, but had to give up on that goal after she had contracted infectious mononucleosis ('kissing disease') after having shared a glass of water with someone. In 1971, she won three medals (one gold, one silver, and one bronze) at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships. In her youth Arrarás competed internationally in swimming. She is one of seven children born to politician, sports leader, lawyer, and educator José Enrique Arrarás. Maria Celeste Arrarás was born Septemin Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

Passions soap opera celeste