If you grew up in a household where the TV was always tuned to Univision or Televisa, you know the name Lety Padilla. You also know that for many, Angélica Vale Betty la fea is the only version that matters, even if purists will fight you tooth and nail over the Colombian original. It’s been nearly two decades since La Fea Más Bella premiered in 2006, and honestly, the impact Angélica Vale had on that role is still something fans obsess over in Facebook groups and TikTok comment sections.
There’s this weird misconception that Angélica Vale was just "another" Betty. She wasn't. She took a character that was essentially a tragic figure in the Colombian version and turned her into a comedic powerhouse. It wasn't just a remake; it was a total cultural shift for Mexican television.
The Massive Pressure of Filling Ana María Orozco’s Shoes
When Televisa announced they were doing their own version of Yo soy Betty, la fea, people were skeptical. You have to remember, the original Colombian show with Ana María Orozco was a global juggernaut. It had already been dubbed into dozens of languages.
Basically, Angélica Vale was stepping into a role that everyone already had a specific image of.
She didn't just show up and put on glasses. To play Leticia "Lety" Padilla Solís, Angélica Vale reportedly lost 20 kilos (about 44 pounds) before the show started, only to then spend hours in the makeup chair being "uglied down." We’re talking bushy eyebrows, a faint mustache, and those iconic braces.
But it wasn't just the look. The physical toll was real. During one scene where she had to throw plates, she actually sliced her hand so badly she needed surgery to rebuild 70% of a tendon in her left hand. She was out for three weeks. Her mother, the legendary Angélica María (who also played her mother on the show), told the press back then that Angélica was suffering from chronic fatigue because they were filming 18-hour days, sometimes seven days a week.
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That’s the kind of commitment that made her version stick.
Why Angélica Vale Betty la fea Felt Different
The Mexican version, La Fea Más Bella, wasn't a beat-for-beat copy. If the Colombian original was a dramedy with a heavy focus on the "drama," the Mexican version was a full-on cartoon at times. It was louder, brighter, and way more slapstick.
- The Humor: Angélica Vale is a comedian at heart. She brought a "clumsy but lovable" energy that made Lety feel less like a victim of her environment and more like a hero we were rooting for in a sitcom.
- The Chemistry: Jaime Camil as Fernando Mendiola was the perfect foil. Their chemistry was so good that fans actually wanted them together in real life (they’re just best friends, sorry to burst the bubble).
- The Music: Unlike the original, music played a huge role here. Angélica actually sang on the soundtrack. Songs like "El club de las feas" became anthems.
One of the most controversial parts—and honestly, what most people get wrong when comparing the shows—is the "Aurora" phase. In the Mexican version, Lety creates a whole alter ego named Aurora. She becomes this red-haired diva to mess with Fernando’s head. It was wild. Some fans loved the drama; others felt it took away from the "inner beauty" message. But man, it made for great ratings.
The "Ugly Betty" Connection You Probably Missed
Here is a fun bit of trivia: Angélica Vale is actually part of the Ugly Betty (the US version) universe.
In the Season 1 finale, "A Tree Grows in Guadalajara," she makes a cameo. But she doesn't play Lety. She plays a character named Angélica who is a dental assistant. It’s a meta-moment where she’s standing right next to America Ferrera.
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Seeing the two Bettys on screen together was a huge deal for the Latino community. It was a nod of respect from Salma Hayek’s production team to the woman who was currently dominating the ratings in Mexico.
Beyond the Braces: What Really Happened to Angélica Vale?
After the show ended in 2007 with a massive finale at Monterrey’s Estadio Azteca (literally thousands of people showed up to watch the final episode on big screens), Angélica was everywhere.
She didn't just fade away. She’s become a massive voice-over star. If you’ve watched Coco in Spanish, she’s Mama Imelda. If you’ve seen the Ice Age movies in Spanish, she’s Ellie the mammoth.
She also moved to the US, became a citizen in 2016, and now hosts a morning radio show in Los Angeles called La Vale Show. She even got her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022, right near her mother’s star.
The Legacy: Is It Better Than the Original?
This is where the debate gets spicy.
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Yo soy Betty, la fea (the Colombian one) is often cited as the "superior" piece of writing. It’s grittier and more realistic. But Angélica Vale Betty la fea is the one that many people feel more emotionally connected to because of the warmth she brought to the character.
The Mexican version was about joy. It was about "El Club de las Feas" being a family. It was less about the cruelty of the fashion world and more about the power of friendship and staying true to yourself—even if you have to dress up as a fake redhead for a few weeks to prove a point.
What to Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic or just curious about why your mom was crying at the TV in 2006, here’s the move:
- Watch the Transformation: Look up the "Lety to Aurora" transformation on YouTube. It’s peak 2000s telenovela camp.
- Check Out the Cameo: Find the Ugly Betty Season 1 finale and look for the dental office scene. It’s a great "where's Waldo" for novela fans.
- Listen to the Voice: Go back and watch Coco in Spanish. Hearing "Lety" as the fierce Mama Imelda is a trip.
The reality is that Angélica Vale didn't just play a character; she defined an era of Spanish-language television that focused on heart over perfection. Whether you prefer the Colombian original or the Mexican remake, you can't deny that Vale earned her spot in the "Betty" Hall of Fame.