Said Palao biography: the samurai of EEG

Athlete, reality TV star, construction entrepreneur and, as of recently, a happily married man. Said Palao, popularly known as the ‘Samurái’, is one of the most solid and respected figures on Peruvian television. His relationship with Alejandra Baigorria and his talent in physical competitions keep him as one of the most searched profiles in 2026. This is his story, from his beginnings in Callao to his present on Esto es Guerra and his marriage.

In this biography we tell you who Said Palao is, how he got to television, his sporting career, his business side, his role as Caetana's father and the ups and downs of his relationship with Alejandra Baigorria during 2026.

Said Palao quick facts

Childhood and early years: the chalaco of judo

Said Palao Tafur was born on March 30, 1993 in the region of Callao, into a humble, hard-working family. From a very young age he stood out for his impressive physical strength and his discipline, which he channelled through judo, a martial art in which he went on to earn the black belt. In December 2021 he was crowned national judo champion, a title that allowed him to join Peru's national squad in the discipline and represent the country at the 2022 Pan American and Oceania Judo Championships, in the Senior category, already in the middle of his stage as a television figure. His younger brother, Austin Palao, would follow in his footsteps in the reality show world years later.

Judo not only gave him a solid sporting base, but also the nickname that would stay with him throughout his television career: the ‘Samurái’. His temperament, his ability to concentrate and his physical endurance made him a formidable competitor in any discipline he set his mind to.

Beginnings on television: Combate and the leap to Esto es Guerra

His television debut came in the ranks of Combate (ATV), where he quickly won the public's affection by positioning himself as one of the pillars of the red team thanks to his skill in speed and strength challenges. His charisma, his good presence and his competitive character made him one of the audience's favourites.

Years later, he made the leap to the main competition, Esto es Guerra (América Televisión), the Pachacámac reality show where he has stayed relevant until 2026, the year in which he is still competing as one of the historic reference points of the “Desafío 14” season. Over his years on the show, Said became one of the most beloved and respected competitors, standing out as much for his physical performance as for his honesty inside and outside the competitions.

His side as an entrepreneur

Said studied industrial engineering, a training that complemented his sporting and television profile. Alongside his work on television, he has used his media exposure to move into business. He is the founder and leader of his own construction and real estate company, a business that has grown steadily and that has made him one of the reality TV stars in the best financial position in the industry. The entertainment press reported, in July 2026, that Said also acts as the business' manager, confirming his active role in the daily running of the construction company.

It was precisely his business side that brought him professionally closer to Alejandra Baigorria, also an entrepreneur and television figure, with whom he ended up building a shared life project: a family home in which they invested years of work and which became the symbol of their relationship. The business has also been his support in difficult moments: while the press speculated about his marriage, Said kept running the construction company, showing that his professional project does not depend on his life on television.

Personal life: marriage to Alejandra Baigorria

What began as a romance under the reality show's cameras soon became one of the most solid relationships in Lima showbiz. After years of courtship and of building a dream home together, the couple married on April 26, 2025 in a high-profile, luxurious ceremony at the Iglesia San Pedro in Lima, sealing their love in front of relatives and public figures such as their own EEG castmates.

The marriage, however, was not free of turbulence. In 2026, the couple went through one of their most publicized crises: in early July, Alejandra confessed that she had decided to pause the plan to have a baby, a statement that generated speculation about the state of the relationship, and days later a paparazzi scoop aired by Magaly Medina put Said at the centre of the controversy. The press talked about an imminent separation, and it was even said that Said was the more desperate of the couple to achieve fatherhood, statements he himself made at the start of the year, when he admitted being the more enthusiastic about the idea of forming a bigger family. The scoop, broadcast on July 7, generated a wave of reactions on social media and fed the entertainment headlines for weeks.

Despite the storm, the couple took an unexpected turn: at the end of July 2026, Said and Alejandra travelled together to Costa Rica on holiday, appearing united and reconciled again on social media. The trip was read by the press as confirmation that they had got past the crisis and that their marriage was still standing. The reconciliation also coincided with a great sporting moment for Said: in those same weeks, the ‘Samurái’ reached the semi-finals of the Desafío 14 season of Esto es Guerra, reaffirming his relevance as one of the reality show's most solid competitors. His followers celebrated that, in the middle of everything, the chalaco kept his focus on what he does best: compete.

His side as a father: Caetana

It is important to clear up one of the internet's biggest myths: Said Palao does not have a daughter with Alejandra Baigorria.

Said is the father of a girl named Caetana, born in 2016, from his past relationship with Venezuelan Aleska Zambrano. Caetana is Said's pride and is frequently seen on her father's social media sharing quality family moments. For her part, Alejandra Baigorria has shown an affectionate, maternal bond with the little girl, taking part in key moments of her life such as birthdays and first communion. The couple, meanwhile, keep the hope of having a child together: after the pause announced by Alejandra in July 2026, both returned to the subject calmly, making clear that family is their priority.

Said Palao trivia

• He is a black belt in judo and represented Peru in international tournaments before reaching television.
• His nickname, the ‘Samurái’, was born from his discipline in martial arts and has been with him since his beginnings on Combate.
• He is the older brother of fellow reality TV star Austin Palao.
• He founded his own construction and real estate company, one of the most solid businesses among Peru's reality TV stars.
• He married Alejandra Baigorria on April 26, 2025 at the Iglesia San Pedro in Lima.
• His daughter Caetana, born in 2016, is from his relationship with Aleska Zambrano, and was the centre of media attention during his wedding to Alejandra.

Conclusion

Said Palao is the perfect example of the reality TV star who managed to build a career beyond the screen: a high-level athlete, successful entrepreneur, dedicated father and husband who has navigated the media crises with dignity. In 2026, reconciled with Alejandra Baigorria and still relevant on Esto es Guerra, the ‘Samurái’ shows that his story is only just starting to write its best chapters.

Sources consulted

• Infobae: Alejandra Baigorria and Said Palao got married: this was their religious wedding at the historic Iglesia San Pedro
• Infobae: Alejandra Baigorria reappears with Said Palao and confirms their reconciliation with a kiss
• La República: Said Palao's daughter makes her mother cry during his wedding
• Infobae: Said Palao is chosen to represent Peru at the Pan American Judo Championships
• Karibeña: Alejandra Baigorria celebrates that Said Palao is national judo champion