Sonia Mercedes Gisela Valcárcel Álvarez (born January 26, 1963) is a Peruvian television hostess, actress, and businesswoman.
Valcarcel was born on 26 January 1963, to her parents Jorge Valcárcel and Teresa Álvarez. She studied at Institución Educativa Teresa González de Fanning. Aún era menor de edad cuando Gisela creyó erróneamente encontrar el amor verdadero y eterno en los brazos de Jorge Pozo, un hombre que le hizo falsas promesas de amor, pues apenas conoció que la joven de entonces 17 años estaba embarazada, le dio la espalda. Con una hijita (Ethel) en brazos y grandes temores, Gisela inició así su arduo y enrevesado camino al éxito.
She started as a secretary at a car company and was hired as an extra for theatre shows. Her career in show business started the day she publicly gave a kiss in the mouth to Venezuelan singer Oscar de León live on Peruvian TV. She was working as a part-time receptionist on Panamerican televisión, channel 5, back then.