Maritere Vilar is an American entertainment professional, choreographer, businesswoman, and real estate professional who is also known as the wife of Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Jon Secada. Before her marriage, she established herself in Miami’s Latin music industry, working on projects connected to Gloria Estefan and later joining Estefan Enterprises.
Her professional experience extends beyond entertainment into business management and real estate. Since marrying Jon Secada in 1997, she has balanced her career with raising their two children. Although she maintains a relatively private lifestyle, her work in the music industry and her business activities are important parts of her story.
Maritere Vilar Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maritere Vilar |
| Also known as | Maritere Secada |
| Profession | Choreographer, businesswoman, real estate professional |
| Known for | Her entertainment career and marriage to Jon Secada |
| Husband | Jon Secada |
| Marriage date | February 22, 1997 |
| Children | Mikaela Nina Secada and Jon Henri Secada |
| Notable professional association | Gloria Estefan and Estefan Enterprises |
| Real estate affiliation | Vilar & Associates, Inc. |
| Professional location | Florida, United States |
Who Is Maritere Vilar?
Maritere Vilar is a former entertainment-industry professional who developed her career in Miami’s Latin music community during the 1990s. She worked as a choreographer before taking on administrative responsibilities at Estefan Enterprises, the entertainment organization associated with Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
Her work brought her into contact with several people in the Latin music business, including Jon Secada, who was developing his international recording career at the time.
Vilar eventually became involved in business management and real estate. Her professional activities have included working alongside her husband while pursuing responsibilities outside the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Maritere Vilar was professionally active in Miami during the early 1990s, a period when Latin American music was becoming increasingly prominent in the United States.
Her early career placed her within the entertainment community surrounding Gloria Estefan, whose international success helped establish Miami as an important center for Latin pop.
Vilar’s exact date of birth and educational background have not been established in authoritative biographical records.
Her early professional experience, however, is documented through her association with Estefan Enterprises and her work in music-video production.
Maritere Vilar’s Career in the Entertainment Industry
Working With Gloria Estefan
One of Maritere Vilar’s most notable professional assignments was her work as a choreographer for Gloria Estefan’s music video Buen Amor.
The song appeared on Estefan’s 1993 Spanish-language album Mi Tierra, which celebrated traditional Cuban and Latin musical influences.
Choreography requires an understanding of movement, music, timing, and visual presentation. For a music-video production, the choreographer helps organize movements that complement the song and work effectively on camera.
Vilar’s involvement in the project established her professional connection to an internationally recognized recording artist.
Her Role at Estefan Enterprises
Following her choreography work, Vilar joined Estefan Enterprises, where she worked as an executive assistant.
Her position placed her within the business operations of an organization responsible for managing entertainment projects and supporting prominent recording artists.
It was during this period that she became acquainted with Jon Secada, whose career was closely connected to Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
The professional relationship eventually developed into a personal one, leading to their marriage in 1997.
How Did Maritere Vilar Meet Jon Secada?
Maritere Vilar and Jon Secada met in 1994 through their professional connection to Estefan Enterprises.
They were subsequently arranged on a blind date. Their first outing together was a Janet Jackson concert at the former Miami Arena.
Their relationship developed as Secada continued his successful recording career.
In a February 2020 interview with El Nuevo Herald, the couple recalled their early relationship and the challenges they faced before getting married.
One difficulty was the initial concern expressed by Vilar’s parents about their daughter dating a famous musician who was 11 years older than her. Those concerns eventually eased as the family became better acquainted with Secada.
The singer later proposed during a trip to Acapulco, Mexico, where he surprised Vilar with an engagement ring hidden in a dessert.
Maritere Vilar and Jon Secada’s Wedding
Maritere Vilar married Jon Secada on February 22, 1997, at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, Florida.
The ceremony was officiated by Father Eduardo Álvarez. Music producer Emilio Estefan and Sandra Rodríguez, a close friend of the bride, served as their wedding sponsors.
Their marriage brought together two people who were already familiar with the professional demands of the entertainment industry.
In their 2020 interview, the couple emphasized the importance of communication, understanding, mutual support, and making time for family.
Maritere Vilar’s Children and Family Life
Maritere Vilar and Jon Secada have two children, Mikaela Nina Secada and Jon Henri Secada.
Their daughter, Mikaela, was born on February 15, 1999. Their son, Jon Henri, was born on July 8, 2002.
Mikaela Nina Secada
Mikaela followed her father’s interests in music and performance. She studied musical theater at the University of Michigan and subsequently established herself as a stage performer.
In August 2023, she made her Broadway debut in Back to the Future: The Musical, appearing as Jennifer Parker.
She has also worked professionally with her father. In 2025, Mikaela and Jon Secada recorded a duet of Unforgettable for his Nat King Cole tribute album, Fascination.
The recording brought their shared musical interests together in a professional collaboration.
Jon Henri Secada
Jon Henri, the couple’s younger child, developed an interest in baseball during his school years.
In their 2020 family interview, his parents discussed his enthusiasm for the sport while explaining how their children’s interests had influenced their family activities.
Unlike his sister, Jon Henri has not established a comparable public career in musical theater.
Maritere Vilar’s Business and Real Estate Career
Maritere Vilar’s professional activities are not restricted to the entertainment industry. She has also developed a career in business and real estate in Florida.
Florida’s real estate licensing records identify Maritere Secada as an active real estate sales associate affiliated with Vilar & Associates, Inc. Her employment relationship with the company is recorded as beginning on February 15, 2022.
She also holds officer positions in Florida corporations associated with the Secada family.
State corporate records identify Maritere V. Secada as vice president and treasurer of Vita Investments, Inc. Jon Secada is listed as the company’s president and secretary.
She holds similar responsibilities at Mika Properties Corp., another Florida corporation.
Both companies have active corporate registrations and filed annual reports in 2026.
These professional positions reflect Vilar’s involvement in business administration and real estate alongside her longstanding connection to the entertainment industry.
Life Away From the Entertainment Spotlight
Although her husband has spent decades performing internationally, Maritere Vilar has maintained a more private personal profile.
She has accompanied Secada to selected entertainment events and appeared with him at industry gatherings. The couple has also participated in interviews discussing their marriage, family, and professional lives.
Their relationship has included working together on business activities while maintaining boundaries between their professional and family responsibilities.
In their 2020 interview, Vilar explained that they had agreed to avoid discussing work after six in the evening.
That arrangement gave them time to concentrate on family life without allowing their professional obligations to dominate their conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maritere Vilar
1. Who is Maritere Vilar?
Maritere Vilar is a choreographer, businesswoman, and Florida real estate professional. She previously worked with Gloria Estefan and Estefan Enterprises and is married to Grammy-winning musician Jon Secada.
2. How old is Maritere Vilar?
Maritere Vilar was identified as 47 years old in a February 2020 interview with El Nuevo Herald, placing her birth around 1972 or early 1973. Her exact birthday has not been established.
3. When did Maritere Vilar marry Jon Secada?
Maritere Vilar and Jon Secada married on February 22, 1997, at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, Florida.
4. How many children does Maritere Vilar have?
She has two children with Jon Secada: Mikaela Nina Secada, born in 1999, and Jon Henri Secada, born in 2002.
5. What does Maritere Vilar do professionally?
Maritere Vilar has worked as a choreographer, entertainment-industry assistant, business officer, and real estate sales associate. Florida licensing records identify her professional affiliation with Vilar & Associates, Inc.
6. Is Maritere Vilar still married to Jon Secada?
Yes. As of 2026, Maritere Vilar and Jon Secada remain married. Their wedding took place in February 1997, and they celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in 2026.
Conclusion
Maritere Vilar’s life combines experience in entertainment, business, real estate, and family. Her early work with Gloria Estefan and her position at Estefan Enterprises established her place in Miami’s Latin music community before her marriage to Jon Secada.
Since their 1997 wedding, she has raised two children while remaining professionally active. Her involvement in Florida real estate and corporate management adds another dimension to a career that began behind the scenes in the music industry.
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