Vanessa Anne Gamboa Sotto-Cruz (born December 14, 1982 in Makati City, Philippines) popularly known as Cindy Kurleto, is a 5'7" model, actress, and a former MTV VJ in the Philippines. Her father is Austrian. She is best known for being a commercial model and an FHM model in the Philippines and also for playing the role of Cassiopea in the hit series Encantadia and its prequel/sequel Etheria.

Cindy is the daughter of divorced couple Faustina Verdillo and Friedrich Kurleto. She stands 5'10". She was taken care of by her mother in Austria where she grew up. Cindy finished her education from elementary to college and took a Hotel and Restaurant Management course there. She later became a waitress. In 2001, she eventually got bored with her job. At that point she decided to take a vacation in her other home country, the Philippines. She sold her car and apartment, quit her job, bought a ticket, packed one suitcase and left for the Philippines. Long after arriving, she decided to settle there for good. It was hard for her at first, but she finally managed to adapt to life there. Her first movie was Jerry Lopez Sineneng's "Ngayong Nandito Ka" with Kristine Hermosa, Jericho Rosales and Onemig Bondoc (2003). In this movie, she played Dennis Samonte's girlfriend who spited him. Cindy Kurleto and Kristine Hermosa stayed very good friends since after the movie they made together in 2003, contrary to the rumors.

Even before she became popular in the entertainment industry, she was known as a major HO in the music industry. She lived in with a has-been rapper, Art Strong, before she dumped him for Jericho Rosales. Rumors had it that Jericho's schlong was longer than Art hence, Cindy did not hesitate to trade him [Art] up.

She has been appearing in commercials and FHM Philippines and local TV shows ever since. Cindy was declared FHM Philippines' Sexiest Woman of the World in 2004, and appeared on the cover of FHM Philippines on April 2004. She became a co-host in the longest noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga" and mainstay in Sundays' comedy show "Daddy Di Do Du". She finally quits her job as a host in "Eat Bulaga" last November 2007 because her non-showbiz boyfriend left Philippines and ask her to be with him and so, she follow her heart. Her co-hosts in "Eat Bulaga" were very supporting in her decision. She is now living in Peru.