One of my guilty pleasure shows is Jane the Virgin. This modern-day telenovela has been one of my mom and I’s favorite shows for years. Focusing on a family of Venezuelans living in Miami, Florida, this show hits close to home. The main character, Jane, is a second-generation Venezuelan immigrant living with her mother and grandmother. Similarly, I live with my immigrant parents, my mother a Colombian immigrant. 

In the show “Jane the Virgin,” the representation of characters is complex and multifaceted, using a combination of drama and comedy to delve into social issues, relationships, and identities.  Jane’s representations illustrate the diversity and depth of Latina women in contemporary media. Jane, the main character, is portrayed as a bright, ambitious, and determined young woman. Her representation challenges typical Latina stereotypes by presenting her as both devoutly religious and career-focused, navigating the complexities of her life as a single mother, a student, and an aspiring writer. Jane's journey underscores her independence and ambition while celebrating her cultural heritage and family values.

On the other hand, Xiomara Janes's mother shows a different side of girlhood. Xiomara, Jane’s mother, embodies a different facet of Latina womanhood. She is passionate, free-spirited, and unapologetically confident, contrasting Jane's more cautious and calculated approach to life. Xiomara’s storyline addresses the struggles of balancing personal ambitions with motherhood, especially as she tries to carve out her own identity while supporting her daughter and dealing with family expectations. Through Xiomara, the show examines the pressures placed on women to conform to certain traditional values, such as marriage and motherhood, while highlighting her own dreams of pursuing a music career. This tension between personal aspiration and family duty is a key theme explored through her character.