Quick Facts
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Full Name | Ximena Duque Giraldo |
| Born | January 30, 1985 |
| Age | 41 |
| Birthplace | Santiago de Cali, Colombia |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Years Active | 2005–Present |
| Spouse | Jay Adkins (m. 2017) |
Who Is Ximena Duque?
Ximena Duque is a Colombian actress and model with an estimated net worth of $5 million. She has spent two decades starring in some of the biggest Spanish-language telenovelas on television, and she has also crossed over into English-language shows like Days of Our Lives and Queen of the South.
Duque built her fortune the way most working actors do: steady, consistent bookings. She has rarely gone a year without landing a lead or supporting role, and that reliability has made her one of the more financially stable stars to come out of the Colombian telenovela system.
Early Life
Duque was born Ximena Duque Giraldo on January 30, 1985, in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. When she was 12 years old, her family relocated to Miami, Florida. That move turned out to be a turning point for her career. Living in Miami put her close to the heart of the U.S. Spanish-language entertainment industry, and it’s where she began training in acting, diction, and accent neutralization to prepare for a screen career.
Miami’s large Latino media industry gave her an advantage most young actresses never get: proximity to casting directors, networks, and studios that produce content for both Latin American and U.S. Hispanic audiences.
Career Breakthrough: Reality TV to Telenovela Star
Duque’s first real break came from an unexpected place: reality television. She appeared on Protagonistas de Novela, a Telemundo competition show built specifically to discover new acting talent. The format worked exactly as intended for Duque, launching her straight into a professional acting career.
In 2005, she landed her first telenovela role in Sonar no Cuesta Nada, playing the character Jenny. That role opened the door to a long run of television work throughout the late 2000s and 2010s.
Telenovela and TV Roles That Built Her Career
Over the following decade, Duque became a familiar face on Spanish-language television with roles including:
- Pecados Ajenos (2007)
- Valeria (2008)
- El Rostro de Analía (2008)
- Victorinos (2009)
- Bella Calamidades (2010)
- Alguien Te Mira (2010)
- Sacrificio de Mujer (2011)
- La Casa de al Lado (2011)
- Corazón Valiente (2012)
- Santa Diabla (2013–2014)
- Villa Paraíso (2014)
- Dueños del Paraíso (2015)
- Clarita (2016)
- ¿Quién es Quién? (2016)
- La Fan (2017)
- Milagros de Navidad (2017)
Santa Diabla is widely considered her signature role, giving her an audience well beyond Colombia and cementing her as a leading lady in the telenovela world.
Crossing Into English-Language Television
Duque didn’t stay confined to Spanish-language projects. In 2016, she landed a recurring part on the long-running American soap opera Days of Our Lives, playing the character Blanca. A year later, in 2017, she joined the cast of Queen of the South, one of USA Network’s biggest crime dramas at the time. Both roles gave her exposure to a broader, English-speaking audience and diversified the income streams behind her net worth.
Film Roles
Duque has also worked in film, starring in:
- Primero de Enero (2014)
- Morir Soñando (2015)
While her film résumé is smaller than her TV catalog, both movies added to her visibility outside the telenovela space.
Personal Life
Duque’s personal story has run alongside her career for two decades. She dated actor Christian Carabias starting in 2003; the couple welcomed a son together in May 2004 before splitting later that decade.
From 2010 to 2016, she was in a relationship with actor and singer Carlos Ponce. After that relationship ended, she began dating Florida businessman Jay Adkins. The couple got engaged in December 2016 and married in June 2017. They have since welcomed two daughters together, making Duque a mother of three.
How Ximena Duque Makes Her Money
Duque’s income comes from a mix of sources that are typical for a working telenovela actress with two decades of credits:
- TV salaries — Recurring and lead roles on major Telemundo and Univision productions
- English-language crossover work — Roles on U.S. network shows like Days of Our Lives and Queen of the South
- Film appearances — Supplemental income from her movie credits
- Modeling and brand work — Early-career modeling and ongoing brand partnerships tied to her public profile
- Reality TV — Her original break on Protagonistas de Novela and later media appearances
Ximena Duque vs. Other Latina TV Stars
Here’s how Duque’s estimated net worth compares to other well-known Latina actresses who came up through television:
| Actress | Estimated Net Worth | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Sofía Vergara | $180 Million | Modern Family |
| Eva Longoria | $60 Million | Desperate Housewives |
| Ximena Duque | $5 Million | Santa Diabla, Queen of the South |
Vergara and Longoria both broke into mainstream U.S. network television early, which explains the gap. Duque’s career has stayed closer to the telenovela circuit, a path that pays well but rarely reaches Hollywood-level paydays.
FAQ
How old is Ximena Duque?
Duque was born on January 30, 1985, making her 41 years old.
Where is Ximena Duque from?
She was born in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, and moved to Miami, Florida, at age 12.
What is Ximena Duque’s most famous role?
Her role in Santa Diabla (2013–2014) is widely considered her breakout, career-defining part.
Is Ximena Duque married?
Yes. She married Florida businessman Jay Adkins in June 2017, after getting engaged in December 2016. They have two daughters together.
How many children does Ximena Duque have?
Three — a son from a previous relationship, born in 2004, and two daughters with her husband, Jay Adkins.
Final Thoughts
Ximena Duque’s $5 million net worth reflects a career built on consistency rather than one breakout hit. From her start on a reality competition show to two decades of telenovela leads and a handful of English-language crossover roles, she has steadily built a name for herself in both the Latin American and U.S. entertainment markets. With acting credits still coming in, her net worth has room to keep growing in the years ahead.