Nicola Porcella BIOGRAPHY: from the pitch to 'Mexico's boyfriend'

Nicola Porcella went from being a youth-division footballer to becoming one of the most popular figures on Peruvian television and, later, a media phenomenon in Mexico after La casa de los famosos. This is his full biography.

Nicola Porcella quick facts

Early years and education

Nicola Emilio Porcella Solimano was born on February 5, 1988 in Lima, Peru, into a family of Italian descent: his parents, Fiorella Solimano Freyre and Francisco Porcella Risso, are from Lima, and through his father's line he later obtained Italian citizenship. He is the younger of two brothers.

He did primary school at Colegio Carmelitas in Lima. His secondary education was more itinerant: he began it in Argentina, where he lived for a few years and started playing football, and completed it at Colegio Agnus Dei in the Peruvian capital. It was in those years that he showed aptitude for sport and decided to try his luck as a professional footballer.

Football career

Nicola Porcella's sporting career began in 2001 in the youth divisions of Circolo Sportivo Italiano in Lima, where he played until 2005 and took part in youth tournaments such as the Copa de la Amistad 2001 and the Copa Adeclub 2002.

Between 2006 and 2007 he was part of FBC Melgar of Arequipa, the club with which he made his professional debut in 2006. He then went through Deportivo Municipal (2008–2009), where he played in the second division, and in 2010 he signed for Sport Boys of Callao, playing in the under-17 and reserve sides, where he scored a goal the press remembered as “Maradona-like”.

In 2010, at 22, he decided to retire from professional football. His life took a radical turn: he worked as cabin crew for an airline and even studied to be an airline pilot, before television knocked on his door.

The leap to Peruvian television

Nicola's first contact with the screen was a cameo in the series Así es la vida in 2006. But it was in 2011 that he began working as a model on the show Very verano and took part in the programme Canta si puedes. That same year he appeared as an applicant in the second season of Combate.

His big break came in 2012, when he joined Esto es Guerra (EEG), the most successful competition reality show in Peru. There he became one of the programme's best-loved faces: he was a historic captain of the Las Cobras team, won the “Best warrior” award in 2014 and starred in historic rivalries with other warriors such as Patricio Parodi. In his last season, alongside Angie Arizaga, he became the first contestant to be crowned champion of the programme.

In parallel, between 2013 and 2014, Nicola began to diversify: he appeared in the series Al fondo hay sitio (playing himself), took part in ¿Sabes más que un niño de primaria? (where he got every question right), was the sought-after bachelor of The Choice and co-hosted the programme Estás en todas alongside Yaco Eskenazi. He also went through Gisela, el gran show doing an impression of Luis Miguel.

In 2015 he starred in the teen telenovela Ven, baila, quinceañera (as Piero del Campo) and hosted Esto es Guerra Teens. He took acting classes with the renowned Peruvian actor Ramón García and launched his own clothing brand, N12. Between 2016 and 2018 he hosted the radio programme El búnker on Onda Cero, and between 2017 and 2019 he established himself as a permanent host of Estás en todas.

The spell at Latina and the move to Mexico

In 2019, Nicola took the decision to resign from América Televisión and sign with Latina Televisión, where he hosted, alongside Karina Rivera, the midday programme Todo por amor (2020). That same year he recorded the series Te volveré a encontrar (2020), where he played Nicolás Valdemar.

2020 marked a turning point: for work reasons he moved to Mexico, where he joined Guerreros 2020, finishing in the top 10 and achieving the runner-up spot. That year he obtained Mexican citizenship. In 2021 he was runner-up of Guerreros 2021, took part in the Peru vs Puerto Rico duel and won the contest Guerra México vs Perú. He also hosted the web programme El show de los sábados.

In 2022 he premiered on Vix the series Travesuras de la niña mala (based on the novel by Mario Vargas Llosa), took part in the reality show Reto 4 elementos (where he was the 15th eliminated) and hosted the radio show Habla kausa on Radio Karibeña.

La casa de los famosos: the phenomenon in Mexico

Nicola Porcella's great international leap came in 2023, when he joined the first season of La casa de los famosos México, broadcast by Televisa. His charisma, his moments of vulnerability and his friendship with the influencer Wendy Guevara made him one of the audience's favourites. He reached the final and finished as runner-up, earning the nickname “Mexico's boyfriend”.

That same year, with his fame already soaring, he took part in ¿Quién es la máscara?, where he was unmasked as Pixel Boy in sixth place, and he appeared in the Teletón México campaign.

In 2024 he continued his rise on Mexican television: he made his debut in the telenovela El amor no tiene receta (as Kenzo Figueroa), joined as a host of the morning programmes Hoy and Qué buena hora, was a panellist on the second season of La casa de los famosos and took part in the stage play Aventurera.

In 2025 he starred in the series Amanecer (playing Camilo Palacios) and took another unexpected turn towards the world of sport: he became co-president of the Persas FC team, in the Américas Kings League of Mexican youtuber Andy Merino, and even scored a penalty on the pitch.

In 2026 he was announced as host of Garra vs. Veneno: Guerreros Mundiales by Univision, consolidating his position as a figure of Latin television.

Personal life

Nicola Porcella is the father of a son born in 2012, from his relationship with Francesca Lazo. The young man has accompanied his father on several programmes and reality shows over the years.

His most talked-about relationship in Peru was with fellow warrior Angie Arizaga, with whom he won Esto es Guerra and shared the screen for years. The relationship ended in 2015 in the middle of an abuse complaint (see the controversies section).

In Mexico, his personal life was tied to Wendy Guevara: the friendship that was born inside La casa de los famosos was christened by the public as “Wencola”, and the two came to live together in Mexico City. In 2023, in an interview with Famous Birthdays, Nicola said he was pansexual, a subject that generated wide conversation on social media.

Controversies

The “party of horror” (2019). In January 2019 it became public that Nicola Porcella had taken part in a private party in Asia, in the province of Lima, during which the models Claudia Meza and Polly Ávila were drugged. The scandal was broken by Magaly Medina, who broadcast images of the event. As a consequence, Nicola was temporarily removed from Esto es Guerra y Estás en todas. During his appearance on El valor de la verdad (hosted by Beto Ortiz), Nicola denied having taken part in the assault.

Lawsuit against Magaly Medina (2019). After the coverage of the case, Nicola sued for defamation the host Magaly Medina. The case was resolved in Porcella's favour, although the ruling was annulled in 2021 by Peru's Supreme Court.

The Angie Arizaga case (2015). Angie Arizaga filed a complaint against Nicola for physical and psychological abuse during their relationship. Porcella admitted on El valor de la verdad that he had engaged in verbal abuse, but denied physical violence. The case was shelved for lack of evidence and, in 2021, Nicola apologized publicly.

Over the course of his career he also piled up temporary suspensions on Esto es Guerra for episodes of bad behaviour (2015, 2016) and a sanction for an act considered cheating in 2019.

Awards and achievements

Follow the careers of Patricio Parodi, Yaco Eskenazi, Jota Benz, Mario Irivarren and more figures of Peruvian showbiz on Famosix.

Nicola Porcella trivia

• Between 2006 and 2007 he was part of FBC Melgar of Arequipa, the club with which he made his professional debut in 2006.
• He then went through Deportivo Municipal (2008–2009), where he played in the second division, and in 2010 he signed for Sport Boys of Callao, playing in the under-17 and reserve sides, where he scored a goal the press remembered as “Maradona-like”.
• In 2010, at 22, he decided to retire from professional football.
• But it was in 2011 that he began working as a model on the show Very verano and took part in the programme Canta si puedes.
• His big break came in 2012, when he joined Esto es Guerra (EEG), the most successful competition reality show in Peru.
• In 2015 he starred in the teen telenovela Ven, baila, quinceañera (as Piero del Campo) and hosted Esto es Guerra Teens.

Sources consulted

• El Comercio: Who is Nicola Porcella from La Casa de los Famosos México? Biography, career and photos of the Peruvian actor
• América TV: Nicola Porcella dedicated an emotional message to his son Adriano