La mujer en el espejo

"La Mujer en el Espejo" (The Woman in the Mirror) is the title of a Colombian telenovela that first aired in Colombia in 1997 and that was later "Miamized"* in 2004 by Telemundo. The 2004 version featured some actors and actresses that gained popularity by being in the soap opera Pasión de Gavilanes which was the "Miamized" version of another Colombian soap opera titled "Las Aguas Mansas". Paola Rey, Juan A. Baptista, Natasha Klauss and Kristina Lilley were all stars of the same telenovelas.

The original version was written by Andrés Huertas and Magda Quintero, and directed by Luis Orjuela. It featured Geraldine Zivic (Mariana Ferrer), Marcela Benjumea (Ana Soler/Mariana Ferrer), Gustavo Angel (Alejandro Santos), and Jorgue Enrique Abello (Camilo Linares).

Plot of the original version

Juliana Soler is an intelligent woman who is in control of her abilities yet is regarded as being ugly by her male coworkers. Her talents, unbeknownst to her, place her in the middle of a storm and she soon becomes the target of those who dislike her. In time Juliana becomes pregnant by a man she loves, Marcos Mutti, but she is accused of a crime she did not commit. Unfortunately, when she tries to run away from the police who are trying to imprison her, she is involved in an accident and she miscarries. In order the avenge herself and her lost child, she makes a deal with the devil, Barbara Montesinos. The devil then transforms her into a stunning blonde; however, she cannot stand in front of mirrors because they reflect her true image.

Plot synopsis

Juliana Soler is the unattractive daughter of Regina (Kristine Lilley),who had once been a fashion model. Regina makes fun of her daughter's homeliness and awkwardness when she is a child and forever shortchanges her emotionally throughout the story. Her Aunt Mercedes (Gloria Gomez) shows up and leads her to a lab, showing her an old mirror where Juliana can wish to be beautiful, however her aunt tells her that she can only be beautiful by day. At nightfall she will turn back into her normal self.

When Juliana wishes upon the mirror, she becomes the beautiful and glamorous Maritza Ferrer. As Maritza, she finds a job in a cosmetic company called Mutti Enterprises which is owned by Gabriel Mutti. There she meets the love of her life Marcos Mutti, who is the son of the owner Gabriel Mutti. But what she doesn't know is that Marcos Mutti is Gabriel's adopted son, and she is Gabriel Mutti's daughter.

Then Gabriel's awful wife, Barbara, develops an deep hatred toward Maritza, along with Marcos' girlfriend, Xiomara. The two women become wary of Maritza. When Marcos leaves Xiomara for Maritza, Maritza's situation worsens. Barbara kidnaps Maritza and when night comes, she discovers her secret. Barbara then plans to kill Maritza. She locks her in a room, filled with gasoline and ignites it. However, Barbara gets locked in the room along with Maritza. Maritza is saved, but Barbara is left horribly disfigured. Barbara then plots to use the secret mirror in order to take over Maritza's body. The disguised Barbara then begins dates Marcos but when he looks in the mirror, he sees the awful Barbara.

Main characters

*Paola Rey .... Juliana/Maritza
*Juan A. Baptista .... Marcos Mutti
*Gabriela Vergara .... Barbara Montesinos de Mutti
*Natasha Klauss .... Luzmila
*Kristina Lilley .... Regina

"*Miamized" -is a term used in Colombia which refers to those original Colombian soap operas which were later remade in Miami and featuring actors from different Latin American countries who were coached so that they would speak with Mexican accents. Often, the plot differs from the oiginal. "Pasión de Gavilanes" being the most successful despite extremely departing from the main story of the original soap titled "Las Aguas Mansas".