How She Overcame Loss and Grief

 

Who is Mayte Garcia?

Mayte is a dancer, singer and actress, but perhaps best known as the ex-wife of the late musician Prince. She gained fame for her relationship with Prince and their subsequent marriage in 1996. Mayte Garcia also achieved recognition for her work as a professional belly dancer, and her appearances on reality television shows such as “Hollywood Exes” and “Dancing with the Stars”.

Mayte Garcia Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Mayte Jannell Garcia was born on 12 November 1973 in Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA. Of Puerto Rican ancestry, she is the daughter of John, a US Air Force pilot, and Janelle, a dancer. Mayte along with her older sister Janice had a diverse upbringing, the family spending time in both Germany and the US. Garcia had a connection to her Puerto Rican roots and spent summers with her extended family in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was at the young age of three that she began her journey in belly dancing.

On 12 May 1981 at the age of seven, Garcia made a notable appearance in the American television program “That’s Incredible!”, in which she demonstrated her extraordinary talent as the world’s youngest professional belly dancer.

During her teenage years, Garcia excelled in ballet, and became a prima ballerina with the Wiesbaden Ballet. She pursued her education at General H.H. Arnold High School in Wiesbaden, Germany, matriculating from there.

Career

Mayte’s career began with a fortuitous opportunity when her mother submitted a video cassette of her performance to a dancer, who passed it on to the legendary musician Prince. Prince met Garcia in 1990, within minutes of viewing the video while on tour in Germany, marking the start of a remarkable journey.

In 1992, Garcia’s talent and captivating presence led to her being hired as a dancer for Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls Tour. This opportunity propelled her into the spotlight, and she became the focus of Prince’s next album, “Love Symbol” (1992). Embodying the persona of an Egyptian princess, Garcia mesmerized audiences and appeared in the “3 Chains o’ Gold” video compilation.

For the following four years through 1996, Garcia became a member of Prince’s renowned performance group, The New Power Generation (NPG). Her artistic skills and dynamic performances earned her acclaim and cemented her place in Prince’s musical orbit. Even after her formal tenure with the NPG, Garcia remained an associate, occasionally joining Prince on tours in 1998 and 1999.

In 1995, Prince further explored his faith in Garcia’s talent by producing an album for her entitled “Child of the Sun”. Released on his NPG Records label, the album featured the overseas single “If I Love U 2 Nite”, allowing Garcia to express her musical abilities to a broader audience.

In 1997, Garcia took on the role of artistic director for the New Power Generation Dance Company during their Around the World in a Day tour. Her creative vision and leadership guided the dance company, complementing Prince’s musical prowess. During this period, Garcia also directed the music video for Prince’s “The One” and choreographed belly dancing routines for Britney Spears’ iconic “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video and her performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Her contributions to these memorable moments in pop culture solidified her reputation as a talented choreographer and director.

Expanding her artistic horizons, Garcia delved into the world of film in 2005, she appeared as a dancer in the Hindi film “Dus”, displaying her diverse skills on an international platform. Additionally, she played the role of a flight attendant in the Spanish language film “El Vacilon”, further demonstrating her versatility as an actress.

Belly dance!? Beginner belly dance video coming soon.. Along with all apparel I wear will be available in all sizes! pic.twitter.com/OMYWt0wB

— mayte garcia (@maytegarcia) February 12, 2013

Garcia’s talent also found a home on television. From 2008 to 2009, she had the recurring role as Jennifer Connor in Lifetime’s popular series “Army Wives”. In 2009, she took on the role of a judge in the first season of Oxygen’s “Dance Your Ass Off”, leveraging her expertise to evaluate and guide aspiring dancers.

The year 2012 marked a new chapter in Garcia’s career, when she joined the cast of VH1’s reality show “Hollywood Exes” as a principal cast member. The show delved into the lives of several high-profile women previously married to famous men.

In 2017, Garcia released her book entitled “The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince”, delving into her professional and personal relationship with the iconic musician. The book offered a captivating glimpse into her journey alongside Prince, garnering attention and praise from fans and critics alike.

Romantic Relationship with Prince

As mentioned, Mayte Garcia, caught the attention of 32-year-old Prince after he watched a video of her dancing. Prince became her legal guardian when she graduated high school at 17, and she moved to Minneapolis with his help. Their relationship grew, and when Garcia turned 19, Prince advised her to start birth control, marking the beginning of their sexual relationship. They married on 14 February, 1996.

Tragically, the couple faced heartbreak when their son, Amiir, was born with Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 in October 1996, and passed away six days later. In a televised interview with Oprah, which took place a week later, they pretended he was still alive as they struggled to come to terms with the loss, Garcia revealing that they held onto the belief that their son’s soul would return. Devastated by the loss, Garcia battled depression and contemplated suicide, but the love and companionship of her dog, Mia, helped her through the difficult times. Following a subsequent miscarriage, the strain on their marriage grew, leading to their divorce in 2000.

Other Relationships, Personal Life, Health Decline

After her divorce from Prince, Garcia had a brief relationship with choreographer Wade Robson from 2000 to 2001. Subsequently, she dated Tommy Lee, the drummer of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, for two years who proposed to Garcia in 2002 before a performance in Fort Wayne, Indiana; their engagement ended in 2003.

Mayte Garcia currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she lives with her daughter Gia, whom she adopted in 2013. In 2010, Garcia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, experiencing symptoms such as optic neuritis, which caused temporary partial vision loss. However, through her treatment program, coupled with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Garcia has prevented the progression of MS symptoms, which has enabled her to maintain an active lifestyle and continue her work.

Net Worth

According to authoritative sources, Mayte Garcia’s net worth is estimated at $2.5 million, as of mid- 2023.

Appearance and Body Measurements

Mayte Garcia has dark brown eyes and black hair. She stands at a height of 5ft 6ins (1.68m), weighs approximately 125lbs (57kgs), with vital statistics of 33-24-33, and bra size 38B.