Soraya Montenegro

Soraya Montenegro is a fictional character in the mexican telenovela María la del Barrio. She is widely known as the most memorable antagonist of the telenovela. She was portrayed by Itati Cantoral in the Mexican series and by Paw Diaz in the Philippine remake.

Character biography

In Mexican Version

Soraya Montenegro- The wealthy evil niece of Victoria Montenegro de de la Vega. Soraya likes Luis Fernando and wants to live with his family's fortune. Her plans are helped by Calixta Popoca her nanny with magic. She makes love with Luis Fernando. When young Maria arrives at the De La Vega mansion her plans are almost ruined when Luis Fernando falls in love with Maria. Soraya instantly hates Maria and wants to destroy her life. She lies and tells Luis that she is pregnant and forces him to marry her. They marry but Luis divorces her when he discovers Soraya is not really pregnant. She arrives at the De La Vega mansion and clutches Calixta her nanny and leaves the De La Vega mansion forever. Soraya falls through a glass window and everyone believe she has died. She travels to the United States to get reincarnated and after 14 years of therapy she is ready to take vengeance to Maria. She then marries the billionaire Oscar Montalban. She quickly kills him in a traffic accident with the goal to inherit his billions. She humiliates and attacks Alicia her stepdaughter. She becomes the girlfriend of Nando Maria and Luis Fernando's son. He falls in love with Alicia and Soraya attacks Esperanza (Alicia's nanny), Nando and Alicia.

Soraya's next scehem is to kill Dr.Mejía because he knew she murdered her husband Oscar. She claims not guilty in court and is eventually set free. Soraya returns to the Mantaelban mansion and tortures Alicia and puts tarantulas in her bedroom. Esperanza returns and protects Alicia from Soraya's brutality. Soraya finds Calixta, her former nanny and biological mother, who is now a woman of poverty, and kills her. She blames Nando for the crime but Maria takes his place. Maria is imprisoned. A fire in the jail makes everyone believe Maria is dead. Soraya, happy for Maria's death, laughs. Quickly the police discover her crimes and Soraya leaves her mansion and finds Maria alive and working as a nanny but with total amnesia. Soraya dresses up as a nurse and kidnaps Maria. She takes her to a cabin owned by her family. She hits Maria who then regains her memory. Soraya tells Maria how much she hates her and her all of the crimes she committed. She then covers the cabin and herself with gas, hoping to burn it to the ground. The police quickly arrive and Luis Fernando runs into the cabin to save Maria. Soraya sets the cabin on fire but her dress accidentally catches on fire. Luis Fernando and Maria escape safely but Soraya burns to death in the flames. Two months later she is forgotten and the de La Vega family is at least happy and safe from Soraya's hate. But Maria stills remembers her and mourns for her, even after all she did to her, and wishes for Soraya to be forgiven by God.

In Philippine Version

Soraya Montenegro - The rich niece of Victoria, Soraya is deeply infatuated with Luis and is jealous of Maria. Soraya attempts to ruin Maria and claim Luis as her own, but her attempts fail. Soraya went insane after her nanny[later revealed to be her mother]Calixta died, Soraya visits the Del La Vegas and attempts to attack them with a knife but Maria attempts to stop her but Soraya pushes Maria away, hitting the wall and knocking her unconscious. Soraya was dragged away by Fernando and was arrested and the Del La Vegas placed a restraining order if Soraya dared to come back. Later, Soraya gave up her wicked ways and was working at the hospital and she encountered Maria. Soraya took Maria's baby and gave it to Victoria. Soraya later died from cancer. Soraya's gave her deliveries and sent to Sabrina and Sabrina got so angry when she figured out that her adopted daughter is Maria's lost daughter for 5 years.

Victims

• Oscar Montalban (her second husband) (portrayed by Manuel Saval in Mexican version only)
• Calixta Popoca (her biological mother) (portrayed by Silvia Caos in Mexican version and by Isay Alvarez in Philippine version)
• Dr. Mejía (her doctor)

Greatest enemies

• Maria Hernandez (portrayed by Thalía in mexican version and by Erich Gonzales in philippine version)
• Victoria Montenegro de de la Vega (portrayed by Irán Eory in mexican version and by Angel Aquino in philippine version)

Lovers

• Osvaldo Treviño (portrayed by Jorge Cáceres in mexican version only)
• Aldo Armenteros (portrayed by Mauricio Aspe in mexican version only)

Meme

Several screenshots of Soraya taken from the series have been used on Internet memes. The memes usually show Soraya looking "evil" and are usually used with comments filled with insulting humor.