Last weekend I helped my mom with some mopping. I stalled as long as I could by scrolling through meaningless online content. Hoping that she wouldn’t barge into the room screaming. She’ll find out why it took me so long to finish while reading this story. I started watching this random video. I am trying to remember what caught my attention. Probably some “healthy brownie” recipe that I probably won’t make. Without even knowing, I was watching another video. It was a video by Las Estrellas, and I knew the actress immediately. It was Thalía. I also recognized the telenovela, even though I never had the chance to see it. I’m talking about the 1994 telenovela Marimar. I thought it was older; at least, that is how I perceived it on Saturday while I watched a short clip of an episode. 

Poor Girl by The Beach

First impression; why is Thalía talking like that? I was amused for a few seconds with her acting then I really got into the story. I’m unfamiliar with the storyline, but it intrigued me. In this part, Marimar is in a room with this blond woman. The producers did an excellent job of making Thalía look like a vulnerable damsel in distress. Of course, they didn’t market it that way, they used softer words like innocence and gentleness, but I know better.

The blond lady was telling Marimar that they were going to throw a party and that she must look her best, and that she would help her. But of course, she was about to do no such thing. She wanted to make Marimar look bad. Then the clip jumpcuts to another scene. Now Thalía was with a man. A gorgeous dark-haired man. Now I don’t like to comment on people’s appearance, so that is the only description you will get from me. You can look up the actor yourself. I think most wo(men) above 45 already know who I’m talking about anyways. I hope that didn’t sound like I’m discriminating against older people because I’m not an ageist, I swear. But yes, I’m talking about Eduardo Capetillo.

¡Que Vivan Los Niños!

Why would a child name their only Ken doll after this Mexican actor? Growing up, I watched adult telenovelas at my grandmother’s house. My dad disapproved, but I would still do it. Televisa, however, started showing children’s telenovelas in the late afternoon. I remember watching Complices al Rescate religiously. After that, Televisa came with Vivan los Niños, and my whole world changed. And yes, I still would have loved to wear those blue-yellowed uniforms to school. I loved that every kid had their own personality. They were each different on their own. And, to my memory, very inclusive as well. Every kid would have loved a maestra Lupita for a school teacher.

Hot for Teacher

It was halfway through the Telenovela, and please keep in mind that I was like ten or eleven, so twenty years ago, came this beautiful man teacher out of nowhere. Of course, he would end up head over heels for Maestra Lupita. I think I knew that he was handsome, but not in a sexual way. I only named the heading like that to keep you reading. Since I only had one Ken doll, brown-skinned and always wearing a groom suit. He changed girlfriends weekly, depending on how much I played during the week. One week he would be with Celine, another week with Teresa, and another with Jasmin. It also depended on context.

Playing School

Sometimes I would play house with them, and they would do stuff like cooking and cleaning. I also used to select a few to play with in the bathtub. However, During the show Vivan los Niños, I would play school with the Barbies. And this one time, I made a list with all their names. Like any teacher would. Celine, my favorite, was first in line, followed by my Ken Doll, whom I named Eduardo Capetillo. I don’t remember why in God’s name, I called him by the actor’s actual name and not by the character’s name. Why didn’t I name him Emiliano? My God!

Big Cleaning

Anyway, my parents were cleaning one day and saw that list. I saw them reading it but didn’t initially think much of it. Then they started giggling. It still didn’t bother me. Then I saw them talking, and they began to laugh even more. It was about that time when I started to feel confused. And my heart started beating fast when I saw them approaching. I guess I didn’t know that Eduardo was a famous actor, which both my parents were familiar with. They asked me about it with devilish grins on their faces as if they knew I would answer some bullshit. And I did because I sheepishly told them it was a name I came up with.

After that, my Ken Doll remained Ken, just plain Ken. I didn’t change his name anymore.

Not Trying to Shit on Eduardo, Just Sergio

I think Eduardo must have driven many people crazy with his looks, even now. Eduardo’s character in Marímar, Sergio Santibáñez, must have been the prince on the white horse that every ’90s mother would have loved their daughter to have. Still, I think differently based on those three episodes I watched last Saturday. Plus I really like Marimar’s blue pearly dress with flowers on it. And her fuchsia sparkly shoes, I would wear them without any doubt. Those who know me know I would wear such a dress without hesitation.

That outfit, however, killed Sergio for a moment. And even though he let her go in public in that dress, he was dying from embarrassment. Because he didn’t love her. She was an adornment, some object that he could control. That is what I sensed in those short episodes that I watched. Was Sergio really what women craved back then? A sexist, misogynistic prick? He literally says that he’ll domesticate Marimar as if she were some wild cat.

I didn’t like his tone most times, and his ego was colossal than his hairy chest (which I like, not hating over here). I don’t know how the story ends, but I wouldn’t want a Sergio, but I remember Emiliano being sweet and gentle. Then again, my memory has been failing me for the last couple of months. If you saw Marimar, please tell me if I’m wrong. Tell me if he turns into a prince after all. And did you also name your dolls after famous actors? Do tell!

If this story gave you secondhand embarrassment, my mission is completed.