Imagine yourself in the 1950s, freshly divorced and suddenly tasked with selling sex toys. It’s a scenario that would make your abuela gasp and your mother blush. Yet for Consuelo, it becomes the catalyst for a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
ViX’s latest TV series, “Consuelo,” is set to grace screens on April 19th, offering audiences a fresh perspective on female agency and sexual liberation. The titular character is portrayed by Mexican actress Cassandra Sanchez Navarro, renowned for her roles in the 2012 telenovela “Corona de Lágrimas” and the 2020 hit film “Cindy La Regia,” the most-watched local movie in Mexico that year. This time, Sanchez-Navarro embodies a dedicated housewife whose world crumbles when her husband abandons her, leaving her to care for three children alone. Determined to achieve financial independence, Consuelo ventures into the world of sales, promoting an innovative device called the “Dildo,” clandestinely becoming the city’s sex guru while discovering love and pleasure for herself.
As Consuelo embarks on her journey as a saleswoman, she encounters initial rejection from her peers, who label the products as “aparatos del demonio,” or “Satan’s artifacts.” Though initially skeptical, Consuelo overcomes prejudice through her exploration, helping other women shed their internalized stigmas surrounding sex and pleasure.
Throughout history, Latinas have often been confined to the role of homemakers, expected solely to please their husbands and embody the ideal of the “esposa amada,” or “beloved model wife,” as Consuelo describes it. And the opposite has happened on screen, where Latinas have often been reduced to highly fetishized roles, lacking representation in empowering narratives like that of Consuelo, who confidently owns her story and asserts her agency.
This show comes at a time where studies indicate that Latinas increasingly view their sexuality and pleasure in a positive light. This trend might explain why, like Consuelo, more Latinas are stepping into the realm of sexual wellness entrepreneurship.
One such pioneer is Éva Goicochea, founder of the Dakota Johnson-backed brand Maude. Reflecting on her upbringing, Goicochea recalls her Mexican-American mother openly discussing sex from a biological standpoint, whereas her Catholic high school and devoutly religious grandparents emphasized abstinence. “I’m sure that’s the experience of many within Latino households,” she told Latina. “Now, even my very, very Catholic grandmother acknowledges what I do, and it makes her proud! If that doesn’t signify the tides changing, I don’t know what does.”
Within this evolving landscape, “Consuelo” emerges as a compelling television series and cultural touchstone, championing sex positivity and women’s empowerment. The show ignites crucial conversations long overdue, connecting women of different generations and inspiring audiences to embrace their journeys.
Watch the trailer here:
Alejandra Arevalo is a Peruvian multimedia journalist based in New York covering the music industry at Chartmetric.