maria la del barrio

María la del Barrio (Spanish for Maria of the Slums) or its international English title, Humble Maria, was a Mexican Telenovela that aired from August 14, 1995 to April 26, 1996 with 92 episodes. The show was the star making role for Mexican actress and singer Thalía.

The show follows María Hernández, played by Thalía, a poor and humble girl who works near a landfill until one day, she is taken in as a ward by Fernando De la Vega, one of the richest man in the country. While being taught to be a proper lady at the De la Vega estate, she meets Fernando's son, Luis Fernando, and the two fall in love. However, María's relationship is opposed by some especially Soraya Montenegro, Luis' cousin, as she wants to inherit the De la Vega fortune by marrying Luis and will do anything to get rid of María.

While one of the world's most popular and successful shows ever, having been broadcast in over 180 countries, the show is also infamous for being over the top even by regular Mexican Telenovela standards. One of the most rememberable meme parts of the show happens later where Luis and María's son, Nando, falls in love with Soraya's stepdaughter, Alicia, and kisses her on the cheek, only for Soraya to catch them in the act and go insane.