Who Is Shany Nadan? Meet the Ecuadorian Actress Who Won MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador

Women Power Desk, Delhi Magazine: Shany Nadan is an Ecuadorian actress who became widely recognised for playing Manuela Sáenz in the historical television series Bolívar. While she built her career through acting in television, films and theatre, she reached a new audience in 2025 after winning the second season of MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador.

Born Shany Nadan Zarlenga on August 22, 1991, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she has worked across several areas of entertainment, including acting, film production and television. Her journey has also taken her from Ecuador to Colombia, where she spent several years developing her acting career.

Shany Nadan’s Parents, Siblings and Family Background

Shany Nadan was born into a multicultural family with roots in Israel, Argentina and Ecuador. Her father, Ori Nadan, is Israeli, while her mother, Gissel Zarlenga, was born in Argentina and grew up in Ecuador. Her mother is a journalist, and her father is a businessman.

Shany has two siblings and grew up in a close family environment that encouraged creativity and artistic expression. In an interview with Vistazo in March 2025, she described her family as a combination of two cultures and traditions, which gave her a multicultural childhood.

Her mother played an important role in developing her creative interests. Shany recalled how she organised activities involving painting, music, theatre and costumes at home. Her father, meanwhile, taught her the importance of discipline, hard work and connecting with nature during their family visits to Israel.

Shany has also spoken warmly about her grandmother, Fanny Ramírez de Zarlenga, who was a painter and helped strengthen her interest in visual arts.

Her family remains an important source of support in her personal and professional life.

Shany Nadan’s Early Life and Acting Career

Shany Nadan developed an interest in acting from an early age. She enjoyed theatre, cinema and television, and began working professionally as an actress at the age of 18.

Her first television role came in the Ecuadorian series Fanatikda in 2010. She later continued her training in performing arts and also studied advertising, keeping another creative career option alongside acting.

In 2015, Nadan moved to Colombia to find more opportunities in the entertainment industry. She spent several years working there and became part of different television productions.

During this period, she appeared in projects such as La Ley del Corazón, 2091 and Tormenta de Amor. These roles helped her gain experience in international television productions and build her career beyond Ecuador.

Ecuador has also seen other familiar faces in the MasterChef Celebrity franchise, including television presenter Virginia Limongi, who has built her own career in modelling, beauty pageants and entertainment.

The Role That Brought Her International Recognition: Manuela Sáenz in Bolívar

One of the most important roles in Shany Nadan’s career came in 2019 when she portrayed Manuela Sáenz in the historical series Bolívar, produced by Caracol Televisión and Netflix.

Manuela Sáenz was an important figure in Latin American independence history and is widely remembered for her association with Simón Bolívar.

Nadan’s performance brought her wider recognition, particularly in Ecuador and Colombia. Her portrayal also earned her the Cultural Merit recognition from the Municipality of Guayaquil.

She was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Telenovela or Series at the 2020 India Catalina Awards in Colombia.

The role remains one of the most recognised performances in her acting career.

Other Television and Film Projects

After Bolívar, Nadan continued working in television and film.

In 2020, she appeared in Operación Pacífico, a Telemundo action series, playing Paula Gaitán.

In 2022, she took on another leading role as Carolina Villamizar in Las Villamizar, a historical drama produced by Caracol Televisión.

She has also appeared in films, including Siete Cabezas, Minuto Final and Sicosexual. Her work has allowed her to explore different characters and genres across television and cinema.

Shany Nadan’s Love Life and Relationship with Johnta

Shany Nadan’s personal life also attracted attention during her participation in MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador 2. The actress developed a relationship with Ecuadorian singer John Taleb, popularly known as Johnta, during the reality show’s filming.

Their chemistry became a talking point among viewers, and the two eventually shared a kiss during an episode aired on January 28, 2025. Their relationship continued after the show, with Shany confirming in a March 2025 interview that they had been together for around three months.

However, the relationship did not last. In December 2025, Johnta confirmed that they had separated at the end of May 2025 by mutual agreement. He explained that they were at different stages in their lives.

Although their romance began on a popular television show and attracted considerable public attention, both eventually chose to move forward separately.

Shany Nadan Wins MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador 2

Shany Nadan surprised many viewers when she joined the second season of MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador, which aired on Teleamazonas.

The actress entered the competition with limited cooking experience but gradually developed her skills through the challenges. She approached cooking with the same discipline and preparation that she used for her acting roles.

On March 24, 2025, Nadan was announced as the winner of MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador 2.

In the final, she presented a three-course menu inspired by her Ecuadorian and Israeli family roots. Her father is from Israel, while her maternal family is from Ecuador, and she brought flavours from both backgrounds into her cooking.

In an interview with Primicias after her victory, she explained how she treated the competition like preparing for an acting role, studying recipes and working hard to improve her cooking.

The win introduced her to a wider audience beyond television and opened another creative path in her career.

From MasterChef Winner to Restaurant Owner

Her interest in cooking continued even after the reality show ended.

In May 2026, Nadan opened Ganúsh, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Moderna Plaza, Samborondón, Ecuador, with her cousin Yohai Nevo.

The restaurant grew from their shared interest in the food and flavours they experienced while growing up. Its menu includes dishes inspired by Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and family cooking traditions.

In an interview with El Universo published on May 15, 2026, Nadan explained that the idea developed after she finished filming MasterChef Celebrity Ecuador. The project took around a year to develop before the restaurant opened.

The restaurant marks another important step in her career, taking her interests beyond acting and television.

Ecuadorian public figures have also been gaining international attention, including First Lady Lavinia Valbonesi, who recently represented her country at an international reception in Madrid.

Shany Nadan as a Film Producer and Entrepreneur

Apart from acting, Nadan has also explored work behind the camera.

She leads Umami Studio, an audiovisual production company in Ecuador that works on digital content, podcasts and post-production. She has also developed Tinta Melón, her own handbag and accessories brand.

Her interest in film production has also grown over the years. She has worked as a co-producer on the Ecuadorian film La Última Noche.

In a February 2026 podcast interview with Dos Generaciones, Nadan discussed her work in film production and revealed that the movie was in the editing stage. She also spoke about developing a pilot for a television series that she hopes could eventually reach international streaming platforms.

Alongside these projects, she has conducted workshops and talks under the name Auténtica, sharing lessons from her professional journey and experiences in the entertainment industry.

Shany Nadan’s Personal Connection with Israel

Shany Nadan has a personal connection with Israel through her family roots. Her father is from Israel, while her maternal family comes from Ecuador. In an interview with Ecuadorian newspaper Expreso, she spoke about her Israeli family background and her close relationship with her grandmother, who still lives in Israel.

Israel is home to several cultural and religious communities, including the Druze community. Read how Sahar Daksa represented Israel at a United Nations committee and spoke about minority communities.

Shany also shared that she used to travel to Israel every year to visit her grandmother. These family connections have played an important role in her understanding of Israeli and Middle Eastern culture.

Her connection with Israel is also reflected in her business journey. Along with her cousin Yohai Nevo, she opened Ganush, a restaurant inspired by their Israeli family roots, traditional recipes and food experiences. The restaurant brings together flavours and dishes connected with their family heritage and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Through her family, travel experiences and food business, Israel remains an important part of Shany Nadan’s personal and cultural background.

Israel has also remained a destination for international entertainment, with Ukrainian singer Vera Brezhneva recently thanking audiences after performing in Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Haifa.

What Is Next for Shany Nadan?

Shany Nadan continues to explore different opportunities in acting, filmmaking and business.

In her February 2026 interview, she spoke about producing new film projects and developing a television series. She also discussed her interest in acting in strong female roles.

Her journey from an actress known for historical television dramas to a MasterChef winner and restaurant owner shows the different creative directions she has explored.

Although acting remains an important part of her professional identity, Nadan has also built a career around film production, food and entrepreneurship.

With her work now spanning entertainment and business, she continues to represent Ecuadorian talent across different creative fields.

About the Author

Delhi Magazine Team