Growing up Watching Telenovelas

   Growing up, in my household, telenovelas were always on. When I would come back home from school, no matter what my mom was doing, there would be a telenovela on. Maybe they were on for background noise or entertainment doesn't matter, they were always on. I loved the storylines, the plot twists, and the drama. The romance was bizarre but that is what made me want to keep watching.
    My favorite telenovela as a kid, which I can guarantee you shaped the attitude I have today, was "Teresa." It is about a law student, named Teresa who is played by Angelique Boyer, lures her way into the world of wealth. She grew up in a poor town and went to a private school on a "scholarship." In the beginning, what really draws you in to keep watching is the way she lies through her school life. No, you think her vices and need for karma would make you hate her, but I can promise you that is not the case. She was popular, dated the perfect guy, but made herself seem like she was rich and had it all. Anytime anyone would ask about her parents she would shrug it off and say they were on a business trip.
   What made me like the character Teresa was her drive to succeed. When the truth came out, she didn't let it bring her down. She went to the law school of her dreams, married the perfect man, and later on owned had her own firm. There were decisions she made that would make you a tad bit annoyed but in the end, while she wasn't supposed to have it her way– she did.
    Angelique Boyer (as our class should know by now) is one of my favorite Latina actresses. She is half-French and half Mexican.  I first saw her in "Rebelde," a telenovela that is based on the different backgrounds of different classes. I grew up watching Boyer and I admire her as a person. She is so confident and dedicated to what she does.
    Another one I grew up watching was "El Clon." The version with Sandra Echeverría, where she portrays an Islamic woman named Jade who is caught in a love triangle. As a kid, I was used to seeing love triangles in telenovelas, but I was always entertained by the drama behind them. You would typically think that it just involves a woman and two different men but there have been cases where it was a woman and a set of twins.
   Yes, the drama was what I lived for but the plot twists would just make me so excited to watch the next episode. Whether a favorite character of mine committed a crime, the couple I never expected share a kiss, or even the villain approaching the main character out of nowhere– the moments that made you want to pull your hair out, those were the best. Especially when it ended in a cliffhanger because that is how you know that the next episode will be absolutely insane.
   I am proud of having grown up watching telenovelas. Yes, they had their drama and crazy love stories but they also taught great lessons. Like, if you slap a man, he will most likely fall in love with you or your maid is possibly your mom or maybe even sister. In all seriousness, they do an amazing job in pushing for diversity, being mindful of those who have a disability and to remain patient even when things get difficult.