8 Latinos of ‘Orange is the New Black’

By Editor July 7, 2017 09:44

8 Latinos of ‘Orange is the New Black’

If you haven’t heard by now, Orange is the New Black is Netflix’s newest hit. A prison show with a kick-ass female cast, it’s no wonder we’re hooked! As we follow Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) during her 15-month sentence in Litchfield Federal Prison, we get to meet quite a few interesting characters that also happen to be Latin. Here are the 8 Latinos of the show and the reasons why OITNB will become your newest addiction:

1.

Dascha Polanco as Dayanara ‘Daya’ Diaz

When Daya finds herself in jail with her mother, it’s a cat-fight waiting to happen. Although the two seem to hate each other, we find out Daya has more in common with her mom than she would care to admit. Lucky (or maybe not) for her, it’s a teenage love affair when she meets Officer Bennett over a piece of gum. Oh to be young and in love! Que lindo! But to be in prison and in love… sounds like a novela to us.

2.

Elizabeth Rodriguez as Aleida Diaz

Although she has 5 kids, Aleida says she has “better things to do” as she walks out the door in a dress so tight you can count all of her ribs. Her not-so-motherly ways and her drug-dealing boyfriend are what got this chica incarcerated. When her daughter (Daya) lands in prison too, Aleida shows zero compassion. In a scandalous attempt to get back at Daya for being disloyal, mommy Diaz ends up naked in a shed. Como se dice “drama?”

3.

Selenis Leyva as Gloria Mendoza

From dishing out unwanted advice to standing up to the most intimidating inmate, Gloria is definitely the mother of “Spanish Harlem“ (the Latina dormitories). Sick? She’s got the home remedy. Going into labor? She’s there to hold your hand. Needless to say, Gloria does it all. And when she takes over in the kitchen, prison food goes from tasting like stale bread to abuela’s tamales on Christmas Eve. Nice!

4.

Jackie Cruz as Flaca

She may be known as Flaca, but don’t let her size fool you. This feisty inmate won’t go out without a fight. She takes no excuses and will get things done her way. Flaca also loves her some Mexican food. She promises the ladies tacos, burritos, and hot sauce when she runs to be a member of the WAC pack. Nice try, but definitely no match for the likes of Sonia Sotomayor.

5.

Diane Guerrero as Maritza

Gossip queen and Aleida’s prison daughter, Maritza thinks pizza is American. Maybe not the smartest of the bunch, this pizza loving diva is the life of the party. Play a little reggaeton and she’s dancing like she’s at Puerto Rican Day Parade. With a baby girl waiting for her to get released, Maritza is counting down the days left in her sentence.

6.

Jessica Pimentel as Maria Ruiz

Ruiz won’t let her baby bump stop her from giving others a piece of her mind. She tells it like it is. However, we feel for Ruiz when her baby is taken away immediately after birth. Hopefully, listening to some of her favorite rapper’s, Kanye West, songs will help her through these rough times.

7.

Laura Gomez as Blanca Flores

She is Litchfield’s craziest inmate… or at least everyone thinks so because she spends hours talking to el Diablo. Constantly occupying the one bathroom stall with a door, Flores is smarter than she lets on.

8.

Berto Colon as Cesar

With Aleida in prison, this drug-dealing boyfriend has more than his fair share of women. Que sinverguenza! He uses the Diaz kitchen as his business’s headquarters, scales and half-naked women all throughout. There really are no other words to describe this one.

Source: Latina