Yanayra is native to Santiago, Dominican Republic. Her father taught her to swim at the age of three. When she was six, Yanayra joined her first swim team, and by 10-years-old she was representing Santiago in national-level competitions. When she was 12, Yanayra was selected to represent the D.R. in international competition. After Yanayra moved to the city, she found Imagine and embraced her dream of instilling her love of swimming to children and adults alike. Yanayra has a beautiful, loving child who she is raising to love the water as much as she does.