Saralegui was a student in the University of Miami, when she got an internship with Spanish language magazine Vanidades (the Spanish version of Vanity Fair). Eventually she worked her way up to becoming the editor of the Spanish version of Cosmopolitan magazine. She led Cosmopolitan throught most of the 1980s, and in 1988, she began transforming her journalism success into television success, when she started her tv talk show, El Show de Cristina, on Univision.
Cristina around that time got married to her husband Marcos, a former member of the Miami Sound Machine music band.
During the 1990s, Cristina's show increased in popularity, her show guests including Don Francisco, the former members of Menudo, Celia Cruz, Thalia, Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, Jorge Ramos, Gloria Estefan and her husand Emilio, Gloria Trevi, Chayanne, Ricky Martin and many more. In one of her most viewed shows, she put Edgardo Diaz face to face with one of the former members of Menudo, Ralphy Rodriguez, so they could confront each other over allegations of abuse that Rodriguez had made against Diaz. In another, Trevi spent a large amount of time crying while talking about her life.
Cristina went on to publish her own magazine,(Cristina, La Revista) and several books. In addition, she is seen on the cover of Maria Antonieta Collins' books, sponsoring them.
She added a monday night version of her show, but ultimately, her daily show was cancelled and now she only has the monday night show.
As an actress, Cristina debuted on The Taina Show. She also has several offers to keep acting, including one to appear on The George Lopez Show.
On July 7, 2003, Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson was a featured guest on Saralegui's show.