In 1998 Alicia made her debut on the popular Venezuelan soap opera Samantha as the lead role.<br />Following the success of Samantha she was called to start in Infierno en el Paraiso another successful soap opera that made her a well known actress.In 2001 she had a small role on the international successful soap opera Secreto de Amor.<br />During 2004–2005, she pursued a career as a TV commercial model with particular success in promoting a dieting product.<br />In 2005, Machado appeared on a Chilean reality show called La Granja (The Farm) and caused scandal when she was filmed having sex with another show participant.<br />After the film and photos became public, her then-fiancee, New York Yankees' right fielder Bobby Abreu, broke off their engagement.<br /> On February 19, 2006, Machado debuted on a Mexican reality show named Cantando Por Un Sueño (Singing For A Dream) a program in the line of the previous Bailando Por Un Sueño (Dancing For A Dream) in which the winner has the chance for a dream to come true.<br />The show is very similar to Dancing with the Stars (U.S.) and Mira Quién Baila (Look Who's Dancing) (Spain).<br />Machado appeared in (and on the cover of) the February 2006 issue of Playboy magazine's Mexican edition, thus becoming the only Miss Universe to pose nude for Playboy.<br /> She dedicated her photographs to Donald Trump and Shane Filan (former dream lover).<br />One of her movies was titled I love Miami, sharing credits with Ofelia Medina. (*)