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From her loud and proud personality to her impeccable fashion sense (seriously, have you ever seen her NOT overdressed?), Sofia Vergara brings this character to life in a way that makes us all want to channel our inner boss-babe. Gloria’s all about never forgetting where you came from, chasing your dreams, and raising a kid on your own like a boss (until Jay swoops in, of course).
Despite her beautiful appearance and her Columbian accent, Gloria is not to be underestimated. In fact, she’s such a badass that most of her marriage with Javier (her ex-husband) was spent with her holding a knife! Okay, okay, we kid… kinda. But seriously, when it comes to being a boss, Gloria has got it down pat.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the highlights of Gloria’s reign as the ultimate queen of sass and style.
Raising Manny on Her Own
The struggles that single mothers go through are heartbreaking. To provide for your child’s every need, from their physical and emotional welfare to their financial needs, on your own is a daily struggle. It’s a difficult chore to take on alone, and it can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
And to make matters worse, society is riddled with the stigmatization of single mothers, which makes it intolerable to have to deal with the added stress and strain of being judged and embarrassed for something that is out of your control.
But have you ever stopped to think about what it’s really like? Take Gloria and Manny, for example. Before their comfortable life with Jay, they endured unimaginable hardships. Gloria had to juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and they lived in a less-than-ideal part of town where safety was a luxury.
It was obvious that Gloria was on her own, raising Manny. But that’s precisely what made their bond so unbreakable. They only had each other to rely on, which is why going through such experiences together forged an unbreakable connection between them.
Faking a Colombian Tradition to Teach Jay a Lesson
Culture and tradition are like the sparkly gems that make us who we are. Gloria Pritchett knows this well and carries her Colombian colors with pride, even in America. After all, it’s natural to crave a slice of home when you’re in a new land.
Modern Family does a fantastic job of showing off Colombian customs, making it a bright, shiny highlight of the show. In fact, the show even teaches us about Colombian customs – how cool is that?
Now, let’s chat about Jay, who sometimes gets a bit grumpy when Colombian flair is in the air. Whether it’s Gloria’s delicious recipes, New Year’s Eve celebrations, or her family’s superstitions, Jay might not always get it, but he does value her background.
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True, Jay can cross the line sometimes, nudging Gloria to create a fake tradition just to make a point – that point being that you should never meddle with Columbian tradition. All of this ended in Jay slapping a chicken and shouting like some teenage girl after each strike, which I admit is too hilarious to watch. But at least he learned his lesson.
When She Fired Back at Haley’s Boss
Picture this: Haley, the jobless and goalless daughter, finally lands a job as an assistant to Gavin Sinclair, her demanding boss. She was so desperate to keep the job that she put up with his abusive behavior. But as fate would have it, while Haley and Gloria were out shopping, Gavin calls her up and makes her do some work. Poor Haley rushes back to the office with Gloria in tow, hoping to impress her boss. But little did she know, Gloria was about to show her how to be a real boss.
Gloria watches from the sidelines as Gavin treats Haley terribly. She could see the fear in Haley’s eyes and the desperate need to please her boss. And that’s when Gloria’s inner boss lady emerged. She marched up to Gavin and gave him a piece of her mind – the kind of tongue-lashing that made him tremble in his boots.
Gloria was like a mob boss from the future, except instead of cracking skulls, she demolished an abusive workplace. She threatened Gavin with all sorts of consequences, and what happened next was nothing short of epic. Haley still got her job back, and Gavin was put in his place.
Her Ruthless Prank Ideas
Gloria’s got a secret weapon: her knack for proving people wrong about her! In the hilarious first episode of Season 9, Manny bumps into Jorge (portrayed by the hilarious Gabriel Iglesias), who’s supposedly Gloria’s “ex-boyfriend” from two decades ago. As soon as Jorge enters the house, it’s obvious how Manny and Jorge are like two peas in a pod, which leads Jay to suspect, with a belly full of butterflies, that Jorge just might be Manny’s real dad.
And then, Alex swoops in with a brilliant idea—why not run a DNA test to clear the air?
Gloria, the master actress, pretends to be a bundle of nerves, worried that Jorge could indeed be Manny’s father. When Alex returns with the DNA results, it’s revealed that Manny and Jorge are, in fact, father and son! Manny is heartbroken, feeling like his life is one big lie, while Jay tearfully reassures him that he’ll always be his dad, no matter what.
But wait—Gloria’s got a sneaky plot twist up her sleeve! Turns out, Jorge was never her ex; he’s just a butcher who happens to look a lot like Manny. Gloria cooked up this wild prank to show her son that she’s got a killer sense of humor, after all. And the cherry on top? It’s all an April Fool’s Day joke!
But still, Rico Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias look eerily close!
From Housewife to Real Estate Queen
In the fifth episode of Season 1, Claire and Gloria get their claws out over Manny and Luke’s kiddie fight. Things heat up when Luke spills the beans, saying he heard his mom, Claire, call Gloria a “coal digger.” Yikes!
Now, Gloria is a head-turning stunner, so it’s no wonder people wonder why she’s with an older gent like Jay. Is it for the moolah? As the episodes unfold, Gloria proves time and time again it’s not about the cash—she’s head over heels for Jay because he’s her perfect match!
Don’t forget, Gloria’s been a hustling hard worker, supporting Manny solo with her street-savvy skills. So when Gloria and Jay join forces, she morphs into a full-time mama bear, going the extra mile to make sure Manny and Joe are showered with love and have everything they need.
Therefore, Gloria’s not a coal digger, she’s a GOAL digger! She even heads back to school to sharpen her skills and dive into the cutthroat world of real estate. And guess what? She’s teaming up with her son-in-law, Phil, to take the property biz by storm.
That’s right, Gloria’s not just a beautiful Colombian mama. She’s a brainy, ambitious woman ready to conquer the career world and show everyone what she’s made of.
Her Smart Marketing Strategy Skills
One of the best qualities that Gloria has is her love for Colombia and how much she respected her family and culture. In Season 7, she spices things up by launching her very own hot sauce business. Supermarket shelves everywhere are now blessed with jars of her family’s secret recipe, making taste buds tingle with every bite.
But what really sets Gloria’s business apart? A brilliant marketing strategy, that’s what! She designed an ad to sit alongside a dazzling showcase of her sauce, featuring a life-sized cardboard cutout of herself. This cutout not only flaunted her beauty but also had a mechanical arm blowing kisses to every passing customer.
Now, let’s be honest – the ad attracted a whole bunch of men, and we all know it wasn’t just the hot sauce that caught their eyes. Gloria’s stunning cardboard doppelgänger was undoubtedly the main attraction. In fact, the situation got so hilariously out of hand that Jay, overcome with jealousy, decided to snatch the cutout and sabotage it. Oh, Jay, you’ve really outdone yourself this time.
Gloria’s smart marketing move highlights the fact that she is not just a pretty face but also a smart businesswoman. She knew how to grab attention and make her product stand out, even if it meant having her cardboard twin steal the show.
Faking Childbirth to Save Claire
Gloria and Claire’s relationship is like a wild roller coaster ride—full of ups, downs, and everything in between! From Claire teasing Gloria about being a “coal digger” to Gloria poking fun at Claire’s tomboy wardrobe, it’s a wonder they got along despite their differences.
So, when Gloria and Clare are at Costco, Claire grabs a cozy sweater from the nearby clothes area and lovingly teaches Gloria about her baby brain fog. The light goes on, and the dynamic pair heads to the checkout line. But that’s not all.
Just as Claire and Gloria are walking to the car, a security guard stops her. She’s still wearing that sweater and forgot to pay for it or took it off! The next thing they knew, Claire was being questioned about whether or not she had stolen.
But Gloria, the “forgetful” one, is quick on her feet. She convinces the store manager that her water just broke with a performance worthy of an Oscar. As the two women run to their cars, the manager keeps telling Gloria how sorry he is for any trouble. In the end, they get in their cars and drive away without answering any questions.
Dealing With the Russian Squatters
Gloria is the queen of wild and crazy stories about mafias and gangsters. You can never tell if they’re true or not, but the way she tells them and uses them to scare people off is just so awesome. She’s a true storytelling legend! One of the most hilarious moments is when Gloria tries to put the fear in some squatters using her itty-bitty knowledge of Russian. You can’t help but laugh!
Our girl Gloria loves to sprinkle in some fun tidbits about her extended family’s adventures or her action-packed experiences in her native Colombia. These little throw-away lines keep you on your toes and add some spice to her stories. But in “The Alliance,” we get to see a different side of Gloria. We find out just how tough she can be, and it’s an absolute treat to watch her shine and not even feel intimidated by the Russians.
“Do you even know how smart I am in Spanish?”
Language barriers can be such a bummer, right? Just think about wanting to spill all your thoughts, but you’re stuck ’cause you don’t know all the words! That’s what Gloria Pritchett goes through. But you know what? She’s a total boss for trying to keep her heritage alive.
So, when Gloria noticed Manny was forgetting his Spanish, she hired a tutor to help him out. But poor Manny just didn’t feel the Spanish vibes, and Gloria got super frustrated. All she wanted was a buddy to chat in her native language with.
Finally, Gloria couldn’t take it anymore and let everyone know how tough it is to translate everything in her head before she speaks and how it stinks when people laugh at her for struggling with words. But then she reminded them that she’s wicked smart in Spanish (and we totally believe her!). After all, she’s a smarty-pants in English, too.
“Men Are All Animals”
Hold up! Not all guys are wild animals, right? But Manny, that little heartbreaker, started dating lots of girls when he was just a young’un, and he picked up some not-so-cool dating habits.
When Gloria saw Manny bounce to a new gal right after his last date, she couldn’t believe her own kiddo had turned into one of “those” guys! Naturally, she got very angry.
Gloria went into full-on mama bear mode, scolding Manny about breaking hearts left and right. She let him know that’s just not how you treat a lady! And you know what? Kudos to Gloria for teaching her son a lesson and not letting that slide.
