Rewatching "Betty La Fea's" Cartagena Episodes as an Adult

A personal essay on emotional freedom

The older I get, the more I understand Betty.

Now that my semester is finally over and summer has officially begun, I decided to rewatch my all-time favourite telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea (1999). And it's not for nothing, Betty is truly a relatable character. I remember when my parents first introduced me to this show. I was only 15 years old, and it was because of some school incident that reminded him of Betty. Today, it has become one of my most beloved comfort shows. It teaches me something new every time.

After reminiscing about Betty's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, I felt the need to write about it.

The first thing I noticed after revisiting these scenes was the parallels between Betty and me. We were both raised in Latin American households where, for the most part, we were overprotected and coddled. This is something I also discuss on my podcast, where I navigate family issues, different upbringings and cultural differences.

My family is very similar to Betty’s.

Catalina Ángel is similar to a beloved aunt of mine, and Michel Doinel reminds me of a summer fling.

Watching this show is also a way to appreciate my parents' care from a different perspective... and Betty herself, whom I still admire for having that much patience with her father.  

Betty in Cartagena

Betty travelled to Cartagena to help Catalina Ángel, played by Celmira Luzardo, with the beauty pageants and to free herself from the guilt and problems surrounding Ecomoda. Watching those beach scenes reminded me so deeply of my desire for happiness again and to feel like I truly love my life.

I also understood better being in Betty’s shoes. It was hard for her to loosen up and socialize with everyone at first because she also needed rest and some alone time after everything she's gone through.

What does it truly feel like, without any doubt or interruption, to rest and recharge for the next day? I remember only experiencing that halfway... still anxious and restless.

"This is not my world," Betty said. I know that sentence almost too well...

I can't recall how many times I've been consumed by fears and doubts, forbidding myself from discovering new places and meeting new people. Or from seeing myself through a different set of eyes, those in which my mind and body are already enough.

How does it feel to walk around freely without losing yourself in others?

It's as if whenever I interact with someone, even if I look my best around them, I forget to exist inside my own body.

I see how Betty's parents constantly asked her about Armando during her trip, which made her question herself and prevented her from feeling joyful. It's moments like these that make me think that, as parents, perhaps one of the greatest acts of love is learning when to trust and let go of your child.

What We Learn From the Characters

It saddens me deeply, and I mean this sincerely, how Beatrice was constantly reduced to her appearance. Marcela Valencia, played by Natalia Ramírez, is among the executives at Ecomoda who never bothered getting to know her as a person. While Betty was healing her own wounds in Cartagena, Marcela was busy hating her and trying to win Armando's love even after discovering that he had fallen in love with her. Although Betty's actions were ethically wrong, Marcela's erratic behaviour toward her demonstrates the brutal consequences of a woman being in love.

She vilifies Beatrice, almost wishing her death, but later shows remorse when she finally accepts where she stands in Armando’s life. This shows how complex characters can be, leaving almost no room for “pure” hatred towards anyone. 

Another complicated character is Mario Calderón, played by Ricardo Vélez. He is supposed to be Armando Mendoza’s best friend until he becomes a constant burden during his hardship with Betty. Though he is a sociopath, he also represents many people from older generations in Latin America, those who minimize, reject, or invalidate emotions.

But not every character is this complicated. Catalina Ángel, for instance, becomes Betty’s greatest mentor and friend. She is brilliant, eloquent, and humble. What I admire most about her, and what I hope to achieve someday, is her ability to help others without judging them or involving herself in their personal affairs. I remember trying to be like that as a teenager and ended up losing friends. As an adult, I try to develop that skill. 

And who can't forget Michel, the Frenchman? Played by Patrick Delmas, he also befriends Betty and quickly becomes a love interest. Something I found interesting and quite symbolic of him was to wear blue in Cartagena, as this colour represents freedom.

Even though I will always have a soft spot for Armando, I must admit that Michel’s character is a quiet reminder of what everyone deserves in a partner. 

He was such a kind man... the way he spoke to Betty was memorable, with respect, patience, and softness, even before her aesthetic transformation. Above all, I loved his softness. Something I hope to experience myself one day. Truly a refreshing character, to say the least. 

Finally, after paying close attention to the interactions between Betty and Catalina, I thought of how Betty represents the insecure self while Catalina represents the ideal self. Betty symbolizes something every woman has experienced at some point: self-consciousness. And if one truly loves themselves, they can also love their "ugly" parts, which is why I think Catalina chose to help Betty. She probably saw herself through her. Their friendship closes the gap between their current and desired self.  

Catalina also reminds me of my aunt. A woman whom I have sometimes been afraid to confide in because, just like Catalina with the Mendoza family, she is involved with my own in some way. And being with my aunt is like being in a free environment, just like how Betty felt with her.

Conclusion

These episodes teach us that our environments shape who we are. In this case, Catalina Ángel hired Betty to take care of the Miss Colombia pageants, which was necessary to her character development.

I get chills hearing the contestants sing the Colombian national anthem because I miss being part of a group of empowered women... 

Being chosen to stand among them. 

These episodes remind me of how much I want to dance samba in Brazil and to experience carnivals in Colombia, seeing people feel happy and alive.

Hopefully, one day I can finally take a plane and travel abroad on my own.

I want to go to the sea…and let it blow into me the peace and hope I have been longing for.

I will end with the word that inspired me to write this essay in the first place:

saudade.

All credits belong to abril blogs. Thank you for respecting my work.