10 Latino Reality TV Shows to Binge on Netflix

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show Made in Mexico
Image Credit: Netflix

Ah, reality TV! Much like telenovelas, you either love reality TV, hate it, or pretend to hate it but it’s low-key your favorite way to unwind after a long day. Latin reality TV is on a level of its own when it comes to dramatic moments, heartwarming stories, and just crazy, chaotic moments that have had a huge cultural impact and birthed a ton of funny memes. If you haven’t gotten into Latin reality TV, you’re missing out, so here are X shows you should check out, like, yesterday:


Made in Mexico

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'Made in Mexico'

Image Credit: Netflix

“Made in Mexico” premiered in 2018 and it has one season, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a reality TV show to binge. It follows a group of young Mexican socialites as they navigate Mexico City’s elite. If you love drama, opulence, and the occasional spicy catfight, you’re gonna love this one. Peeking into the glamorous lives of these people will keep you hooked and watching them all trying to secure their spot in Mexico City’s exclusive social scene is pure gold.

Nailed It! Mexico

Screengrab of the latino reality TV show 'Nailed It! Mexico'

Image Credit: Netflix

“Nailed It! Mexico” premiered in 2019 and it has three seasons on Netflix, so there’s plenty for you to watch if you end up loving it. It’s a hilarious baking competition where amateur home bakers try to recreate complicated cakes for a chance to win $10,000. The great thing about the show is that the contestants have epic baking fails because they’re not professionals, so it makes for good LOL moments. The contestants also create a sense of camaraderie that’s very lighthearted and nice to watch. If you’re in the mood for some feel-good reality TV that will make you laugh, this is it.

Forever Queens

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'Forever Queens'

Image Credit: Netflix

“Forever Queens” is a reality TV show that follows Mexican showbiz icons Lucía Méndez, Laura Zapata, Sylvia Pasquel, and Lorena Herrera as they reinvent themselves. We see them as they go through their glamorous lives and their personalities are on full display, which makes for highly entertaining moments. Expect some personal drama and a lot of nostalgia if you’re familiar with these icons already. Viewers of the show report enjoying how delusional some of these queens are, which is always fun. “Forever Queens” premiered in 2022 and ended this year with 2 seasons, so you have quite a few episodes to get through!

Stranded with My Mother-in-Law

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'Stranded with My Mother-in-Law'

Image Credit: Netflix

“Stranded with My Mother-in-Law” is a Brazilian reality competition that will surprise you. It premiered in 2023, it has one season, and the competition consists of couples who go to a paradise island, expecting to compete and win a life-changing prize. The twist is that their mother-in-law will be their teammates, not their romantic partners as they first thought, so their dynamics are quite interesting. This switcheroo makes for an entertaining competition full of hilarious, dramatic, and heartwarming moments.

Iron Chef: Mexico

Screengrab of the latino reality TV show 'Iron Chef: Mexico'

Image Credit: Netflix

If you love a good reality TV show about food, “Iron Chef: Mexico” will scratch that itch. It premiered in 2022 and it has one season of an intense cooking competition where seasoned pros go head-to-head with three of Mexico's finest chefs to win the mythical katana and be crowned the Legendary Chef. Foodies will love this one because the competition is all centered around a variety of Mexican dishes, so you can learn a thing or two. Plus, the competitiveness between the contestants makes for juicy moments!

Too Hot to Handle: Latino

Screengrab of the latino reality TV show 'Too Hot to Handle: Latino'

Image Credit: Netflix

If you’ve watched and loved the British reality TV show “Too Hot to Handle,” you’re going to love this Latino twist. “Too Hot to Handle: Latino” premiered in 2021 and it has one season. The show follows the same format, so you have a group of young singles from Latin America and Spain gathered in a tropical paradise. They thought they would be able to go crazy and enjoy the heat, but they must stay abstinent if they want to win $100,000. The show is spicy, very tense, dramatic, and so much fun to watch.

Sugar Rush: The Baking Point

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'Sugar Rush: The Baking Point'

Image Credit: Netflix

“Sugar Rush: The Baking Point” is for anyone with a sweet tooth who loves watching pastry chefs compete against each other. This show premiered in 2023 and it has one season where six teams of pastry chefs compete against time to see who creates the best edible masterpieces. A team gets eliminated in each episode, so the tension rises more and more. It’s a family-friendly reality TV show where creativity and delicious desserts are the main attraction. The competitive banter among contestants makes it super engaging as well. If you’re looking for something fluffy and feel-good but still interesting, this is a great option.

A Queen Is Born

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'A Queen Is Born'

Image Credit: Netflix

If you enjoy shows like “RuPaul's Drag Race” and “Drag Race Mexico,” “A Queen Is Born” will be right up your alley. It premiered in 2020 with one season and it’s hosted by drag queens Gloria Groove and Alexia Twister. The show is focused on helping aspiring drag queens and drag kings find their confidence and transform into stage-ready stars. It’s not a competition, it’s a makeover show, and it’s both heartwarming and entertaining. “A Queen Is Born” is all about self-love, acceptance, queer identity, and transformation, so you can expect glamour, fabulousness, and emotional moments.

Piñata Masters!

Screengrab of the latino reality TV show 'Pi\u00f1ata Masters!'

Image Credit: Netflix

Who doesn’t love a good piñata? “Piñata Masters!” is another fun, family-friendly reality TV show that anyone can enjoy. It premiered in 2022 and it has one season where seven teams of artists, carpenters, and designers compete to create colorful and creative piñatas. The best part is they’re judged by a group of kids who then get to destroy the piñatas at the end in true Latino fashion. This is just a delightful show to watch and you’ll be impressed by the incredible piñatas these artists get to create. It’s definitely a great show to connect with your inner child!

Taco Chronicles

Promotional image of the latino reality TV show 'Taco Chronicles'

Image Credit: Netflix

Last but not at all least, “Taco Chronicles” is the ultimate reality TV show/documentary to watch if you’re a taco lover. It premiered in 2019 and it has three seasons you can enjoy. In each episode, they explore the rich history and culture behind some of the most popular and delicious tacos. This show is a love letter to tacos, the people who make them, and the heritage behind them. It’s mouth-watering, feel-good, and a beautiful exploration of Mexican culture through its amazing cuisine. Beware, you will be craving tacos the entire time!

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).