Delynel N. Carmona Torres’ resume currently reads, “bachelor’s degree in natural sciences from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, trimester 4 Doctor of Chiropractic student at Logan University, and Disney+ actress.”
Delynel had done a few modeling jobs while growing up, but working in the entertainment industry never crossed her mind. However, when the opportunity to appear in a Disney+ original series arose, she jumped at the chance.
“I never thought about acting on a television show, let alone on a platform that is viewed worldwide,” Delynel said. “But when a contact I had reached out to said they needed an extra on a Disney+ series, I couldn’t say no.”
The Disney+ series, “@Gina Yei: #WithAllMyHeartAndMore” follows aspiring musician Gina on her journey at the prestigious Caribbean Music Institute. It is the first Disney+ series filmed completely in Puerto Rico for an entirely Spanish show.
Delynel was originally cast as an extra in one of the show’s beach volleyball scenes, but she ended up having lines too. She conversed with the protagonists of the series: a girl-group nicknamed, “Las Joyas.”
“I had no idea what to expect when they approached me with the lines,” said Delynel. “It was my first time acting, so the acting coach on set helped me rehearse and build confidence.”
While on set during her first day, Delynel had an interaction with the show’s director that she will never forget.
“Since I had originally been cast as an extra, I didn’t have as much makeup on as the lead girls because they didn’t think I was going to be on the screen that often,” Delynel said. “The director noticed this and told the makeup artists, ‘She is a Joya, so she should be at their level.’ I couldn’t believe the level of responsibility and trust they had in me. It was a crazy feeling.”
Although she felt nervous, Delynel decided to toss her fears aside and focus on the experience, enjoying each moment.
“I really did have a lot of fun,” said Delynel. “Seeing and partaking in the filming process felt like being in a world completely different than reality.”
Reality did rear its head during a day of filming on a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Temperatures were over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat combined with multiple days of shooting and reshooting revealed a different side of show business.
“I learned that acting is just like any other job, and it can be very exhausting,” Delynel said. “I saw the cast make mistakes that caused scenes to start over, and we had to film each one over and over from different angles. It was more than I anticipated.”
The series premiered in early January 2023 and is available for streaming on Disney+ everywhere.
“I still can’t believe I get to say I participated in an episode for Disney+ in Puerto Rico in Spanish,” said Delynel. “The experience was indescribable.”
While she enjoyed her time as an actress, Delynel is committed to her future career in chiropractic.
“The degree I will obtain at Logan will allow me to become not only a great doctor, but also a better human being,” Delynel said. “I would love to have my own chiropractic clinic in the future, but I am also open to opportunities and experiences that allow me to explore my passion for understanding our bodies, healing them and impacting lives with my hands.”