HispanicBusiness

For decades, Emmy Award-winning journalist Cristina Saralegui has been at home in the TV studio, where she conducts interviews as host of her successful Spanish-language talk show "The Cristina Show," airing on Univision. But for the past 5 years, the veteran broadcaster has been equally at home in another venue: the home furnishings market.

The Casa Cristina Collection of Home Furnishings is one of the nation's fastest-growing lines of home products. The Cuban-born broadcaster has created a collection featuring 16 product categories, from furniture and lighting to bedding and bath items. Her collection is inspired by the style and decor in her own Miami home, along with memories of her childhood.

In 2006, Saralegui earned a spot on the list of "The 50 Most Influential People in Home Furnishings Style and Design" by Home Furnishings News. And in 2007 Saralegui partnered with national retailer Kohl's, where her bed and bath, kitchen textiles, and home decor collections can be found.

Now the journalist, who has won 12 Emmys and filmed 4,000 shows, has introduced a new collection to her home furnishings line: the Casa Cristina Art Collection. The collection is comprised of 28 framed pieces of art selected by her and produced by Miami-based Portfolio Art Factory.

"I always wanted to bring the art and color that I love into the homes of our customers but waited until we could find a partner who would do the kind of quality production that I would feel proud to have in my own home," Saralegui said. "The Portfolio Art Factory was worth waiting for."

Ancel Lopez of Portfolio Art Factory said: "Cristina's exquisite taste and clear direction made it a joy to create her personal Casa Cristina Art Collection. Her name and reputation as one of the most recognized and respected television journalists made it an ideal creative and business partnership."

Saralegui, who began her media career 30 years ago as an intern at a Spanish-language magazine, is celebrating 20 years on the air this year. "The Cristina Show," which she also produces, is one of the highest-rated programs on Spanish-language television. It is seen throughout Latin America and in most European countries. In the U.S., the show airs Monday nights on the Univision Network.

In 2005, Saralegui was named one of the "25 Most Influential Hispanics in America" by Time Magazine and the same year, she became the first Latina to be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. She is also the first Spanish-language TV personality to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.