# La Cenicienta (TV series)

La Cenicienta is an unscripted American reality television telenovela series. It is one of Telemundo's early entries into reality television. La Cenicienta (Cinderella) creator and executive producer is Nely Galán former President of Telemundo.

## Format

Known for its scripted soap operas known as telenovelas, La Cenicienta is unscripted. Popularity of the unscripted La Cenicienta increased to English-speaking viewers with Telemundo's introduction of English subtitles. Ms. Minerva Ruvalcaba is herself on La Cenicienta. Ms. Ruvalcaba is a real-life Cinderella seeking true love. She is courted by 20 potential Los Pretendientes (The Suitors) of various age, ethnicity, and occupation. In the show, Ms. Ruvalcaba's dates with the suitors are chaperoned by her Madrina (godmother) Eva Tamargo Lemus. Ms. Lemus is best known in NBC's Passions daytime TV drama. Ms. Ruvalcaba is advised by an astrologer, her two best friends, and a priest in the selection of Prince Charming.
"At the heart of our reality TV is the concept that our audience loves: the love story or the dramatic arc or conflict that is at the heart of telenovela," said Ramon Escobar, executive vice president of programming and production at Telemundo. "Reality has struck a chord because it revolves around human drams and relationships that our audience cares about as well as the aspirational elements that are so popular in our novelas."
La Cenicienta is shot at The Desert Castle in Palm Desert, California.

## Los Pretendientes

| Name | Age | Nationality | Occupation |
| Alonso, Lazaro | 27 | Cuban-American | Marketing Consultant |
| Biezonsky, Daniel | 24 | Jewish Mexican | Engineer |
| Borques, Edwin | 30 | Ecuadorian | Scriptwriter |
| Campos, Luis | 27 | Costa Rican | Finance Director |
| Coppola, Bernardo | 22 | Argentinian | Student/Actor |
| Dugan, Joseph | 30 | Anglo-American | Post Production/Editor |
| Fernandez, Alfredo | 26 | Mexican-American | Financial Analyst/Singer |
| Huesca, Guillermo | 35 | Mexican | TV Host/Announcer |
| Javier, Francisco | 32 | Salvadoran-Mexican | Business Owner |
| Jose Rafael | 27 | Puerto Rican | Writer/Producer |
| Llobet, Alejandro | 29 | Spanish | Bartender |
| Martinez, Andres | 24 | Colombian | Architect Student |
| Martinez, Johnny | 27 | Cuban-American | Scuba Diver |
| Medrano, Paul | 27 | Mexican-American | Personal Trainer |
| Ortiz, Roberto | 27 | Mexican-American | Model/Singer |
| Pack, Ramon | 30 | Mexican-Cuban-Korean | Lawyer |
| Palma, Pablo | 26 | Mexican-American | School Teacher |
| Pou, Michael | 29 | Cuban-American | Administrative Asst. |
| Rodriguez, Fabian | 26 | Colombian | Flight Attendant |
| Vallarino, Hernan | 26 | Uruguan | Singer |

## La Cenicienta (Cinderella)

Ms. Ruvalcaba's personal journey attracted the attention of Nely Galán. Ms. Galán who is CEO of Galan Entertainment, is creator and executive producer of the modern day Cinderella story.
Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Matamoros, Mexico, Ms. Ruvalcaba is the only daughter of Leandro "Chacho" and Minerva Ruvalcaba (mother also named Minerva)'s five children.
La Cenicienta viewers enhanced Ms. Ruvalcaba's rise in fame and notoriety by continuing their loyal viewership. Overnight from the airing of La Cenicienta, Ms. Ruvalcaba's rise to fame came along with media and Spanish audience praise. Ms. Ruvalcaba signed with The Carlos Alvarado Agency (now Alvarado Rey Agency) to represent her.

## Cinderella controversy

Mireya Navarro of The New York Times uncovered Ms. Ruvalcaba's unpublicized secret. Ms. Ruvalcaba is twice divorced with a daughter.
Ms. Galán confirmed the information.
"That's the scarlet letter -- if you have a kid you're used merchandise," said Nely Galán.
Ms. Ruvalcaba does not comment on The New York Times story.
Over 1.5 million viewers tune in to find out who is Ms. Ruvalcaba's Prince Charming. In the finale of La Cenicienta, Ms. Ruvalcaba chooses Alejandro Llobet as Prince Charming. People Espaňol discovers and reports Ms. Ruvalcaba is linked to telenovela actor Mauricio Islas.
La Cenicienta aired primetime for six weeks. Telemundo dropped English subtitles featured on La Cenicienta. Audience demand forced Telemundo to rescind that decision.

## Present day

Ms. Ruvalcaba is an entrepreneur who, with her ex-husband Alex Fernandez, own and operate Nuestronegocio a distribution company. Ms. Ruvalcaba lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her daughter.