Columba “Colu” Diaz Makes ‘Made In Mexico’ Worth Watching

Made In Mexico is Netflix’s latest move into total content domination. To wit, the show feels almost too self-aware of what it is meant to be: a Mexican version of Real Housewives, designed to show American viewers a different side of Mexican culture (and to cut into Bravo’s kingdom of reality show fare). The socialites, TV personalities, and Instagram stars profiled on Made in Mexico are pretty, wealthy, and willing to serve up the drama. But so far only one has really captured my heart and that’s hot bitch Colu.

Columba “Colu” Diaz is a well-known model and fashion darling in the Mexico City social scene. Made In Mexico introduces her as Kitzia Mitre’s old friend and as, well, the cast bitch. The archetype of “bitch” has evolved in reality shows over the years. Once, it was a slam to a woman’s character. She was there to overreact and fan drama, cause friction amongst friends, and misbehave. However, as reality shows have become more and more sophisticated in their sagas, the “bitch” has become worthy of redemption. Not only is she the most capable in the cast of having a multi-season redemptive arc, but she is the sole person on the show whom the audience knows has fun stirring up drama. She is both puppet and puppetmaster, fully aware that she is flirting with the fourth wall. 

From the very start of Made in Mexico, Colu plays up this dichotomy. She is unguarded in early interviews, happy to poke fun at herself and her cast mates. While other folks on the show take passionate umbrage at the Trump-ian stereotype of Mexicans as “bad hombres,” Colu sarcastically boasts, “I am a bad woman!” And then teases the camera with a laugh. Since she is constantly aware of the bullshit inherent in the reality show structure, Colu is a no bullshit bitch.

But the real moment that made Colu my new reality girlcrush happens late in Made in Mexico’s first episode. Kitzia has invited Colu to her son’s party with the hopes of setting the leggy fashionista up with her troubled brother-in-law, Roby. For most of the episode, Roby has been given a positive edit. He’s a handsome, tortured soul who wishes he could be with his young son. However, at the party, the sparks between Roby and Colu soon disintegrate into ash when it’s revealed that Roby is…a shitty drunk. 

Instead of caving under the pressure of the situation — the social pressure to go for this hot guy for the sake of her friend, the party, and the show — Colu rises up and puts him in his place. She not only calls him out for being a chauvinist, but tells Kritzia he’s too drunk for a kid’s party. It was amazing. Colu was brashly confident in a way that inspired me as a woman. The next time a gross drunk rich guy tries to get me to dance for him at a rodeo-themed baby’s party, I, too, will snap at him and saying, “Hey! No!” (I might even look into buying a black brimmed hat to wear outdoors this winter. I don’t know. I’m feeling frisky.)

Made in Mexico might be a tepid foray into reality shows for Netflix, but Colu Diaz is a hot bitch on fire.

Watch Made in Mexico on Netflix