Latina villains captivate us. They can be bold, ruthless, unforgettable. Yet, despite their evolution, they remain trapped in tired stereotypes. Why are they always seductresses or criminals? And what would a truly fresh Latina villain look like?

Yet, despite their evolution in style and narrative depth, Latina villains remain trapped in the same outdated stereotypes. For decades, they’ve been boxed into two categories: the seductress and the criminal mastermind. Even when they break out of these molds in small ways, their stories still revolve around the same tropes passion, revenge, and a dangerous proximity to crime.

The Evolution: From Novela Queens to Crime Lords

Telenovelas gave us some of the most iconic villains in television history. Soraya Montenegro, with her over-the-top rants and manic energy, became meme royalty. Catalina Creel from Cuna de Lobos (1986), with her signature eye patch and cold, calculating demeanor, set the standard for the ruthless matriarch. These women weren’t just evil – they were theatrical, dripping in melodrama, and always impeccably dressed.

Fast forward to today, and Latina villains have traded their novela theatrics for slick, prestige TV storytelling. Camila Vargas in Queen of the South is a master strategist, wielding power through intellect rather than emotional outbursts. Netflix’s Griselda paints its protagonist as a complex antihero, adding layers to the real-life drug queenpin’s story. These villains have become more sophisticated, but their core remains the same: Latina power is still equated with crime, seduction, or both.

Why Are We Always Seductresses or Criminals?

Hollywood has long struggled with portraying Latina characters beyond a narrow spectrum. If a Latina is powerful, she’s either using her body as a weapon or she’s running an empire built on illegal dealings. Even when there’s an attempt to give her depth, the narratives still reinforce harmful stereotypes.

Take Griselda Blanco, the real-life Colombian drug trafficker. She was undeniably a figure of power, but her repeated appearances in productions like Cocaine Cowboys, Narcos, and Griselda only cement the association between Latinas and the drug trade. Meanwhile, in mainstream Hollywood, Latinas are often framed as “spicy” or “fiery,” their strength derived from sensuality rather than intellect.

Even when Hollywood grants Latina villains emotional depth, it’s often to make them more tragic, not original. Teresa Mendoza, for example, has a backstory of survival and resilience, yet her story still revolves around drug cartels. Queen of the South portrays Camila Vargas is portrayed as a shrewd businesswoman, yet she remains within the confines of organized crime.

It begs the question why can’t we have a Latina villain who is ambitious without being a criminal? Why must our darkness always be tied to lust or lawlessness?

The Double Standard in Villainy

White villains are afforded a range of motivations beyond passion and crime. Take Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne. She’s a master manipulator whose power lies in her intelligence, not her sexuality. Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones is brutal and ambitious, but her villainy is tied to political maneuvering rather than drugs or revenge. Even iconic male villains, like Walter White in Breaking Bad, are allowed to be morally complex without being reduced to stereotypes.

So why don’t we see Latina villains who wield power through innovation, deception, or corporate greed rather than romance and crime? Where’s the Latina equivalent of Succession’s Logan Roy or House of Cards’ Frank Underwood? Where is our cold-blooded scientist pushing the limits of ethics? Our tech mogul willing to sabotage rivals to stay on top?

What Would a Truly Fresh Latina Villain Look Like?

It’s time to break out of the mold. Imagine a Latina villain who isn’t bound to the usual tropes:

• A high-powered CEO who manipulates markets rather than cartel networks.
• A political strategist orchestrating a coup, with no need for seduction or revenge.
• A scientist pushing the boundaries of morality in pursuit of discovery.
• A femme fatale whose allure lies in her unpredictability and intellect, not just her body.

These aren’t just hypotheticals they’re the kinds of villains we deserve. Latina characters should be allowed the same complexity, ambition, and narrative freedom as their Anglo counterparts.

Breaking the Cycle

The good news? Change is happening, albeit slowly. Shows like Euphoria and The Last of Us are expanding Latina representation in more nuanced ways, offering roles beyond the predictable. However, when it comes to villains, we’re still waiting for a breakthrough.

Part of the solution lies in who gets to tell the stories. When Latinas are in the writers’ room, producing, and directing, we get characters that break free from tired tropes. Until then, the same stereotypes will keep cycling through, wrapped in shinier packaging but fundamentally unchanged.

Conclusion: We Deserve Better Villains

Latina villains have come a long way, but they’re still walking the same narrow path. Whether it’s Soraya Montenegro’s jealous rage, Catalina Creel’s cold ambition, Camila Vargas’ strategic cunning, or Griselda Blanco’s brutal power, the stories remain eerily familiar.

It’s time to imagine new possibilities. A truly fresh Latina villain wouldn’t just break the rules, she’d rewrite them. Because if we’re going to be the villains, let’s at least be the most interesting ones in the room.