Gabby Windey was the epitome of poise finally week’s spherical desk on hit TV sequence “The Traitors.” Within the campy, homicide mystery-inspired recreation present, actuality TV stars and extra questionable public figures — Zac Efron’s brother is a contestant, in addition to a random British aristocrat — should sniff out who amongst them is a “traitor” amongst “faithfuls.“
Contestants set their sights on Windey, former “Bachelorette” star and podcaster, in hopes of booting her from the competitors. Their plan appeared foolproof… had they not made the error of underestimating a sizzling Latina with a vocal cadence akin to that of Jennifer Coolidge.
Windey knocked down each accusation with a cool, studied rebuttal. Her efficiency was so strong that her foes needed to change course final minute. In that second, Windey ammonium thioglycolate-ed her path to victory, and ultimately, she and three fellow “faithfuls” gained the sport on this week’s finale.
Each step of the way in which I rooted for the ringleader of the all-women “Bambis” alliance — named for his or her massive, doe-like eyes — as a result of she proved everybody fallacious, regarded cute doing it and introduced her trademark droll, mall-girl vibe to the operate. A lot of what the half-Mexican star navigated on the present is what Latinas expertise on a regular basis at their jobs, of their households and all over the place else; and it felt good to observe her win.
Whereas nobody ever absolutely laughed off Windey this season, there was a transparent sense that she and her fellow Bambis weren’t taken significantly. The “gamers” — what they name contestants from different actuality recreation exhibits like “Big Brother” and “Survivor” — specifically, the lads, pushed their approach via challenges and displayed hubris that inevitably buried them. Even the ultimate two traitors standing — “Big Brother” contestants Danielle Reyes and Britney Haynes — thought they’d one over Windey. A lot in order that Reyes assured she would “annihilate” Windey.
Clearly, they didn’t do their analysis. Windey is a former Denver Broncos cheerleader, which got here in helpful when she landed in second place on Season 31 of “Dancing With the Stars.” She was additionally a nurse on the entrance strains of the COVID-19 pandemic. Windey has honed two ability units that require each smarts and guts. Have you ever ever tried memorizing choreo, or intubating a human being?
Whereas the “Traitors” solid confirmed reverence and concern for gamers like “Survivor’s” notorious “Boston” Rob Mariano, or the professionally scathing Dorinda Medley from “Real Housewives of New York,” they forgot that Windey turned an icon within the “Bachelor” universe after rejecting Clayton Echard’s provide to stroll her out post-dumping — then co-leading on “The Bachelorette” — then dumping her fiancée and popping out as a lesbian afterward “The View.” A Housewife can throw expert-level shade, however so can Windey, who follows it up by dragging the patriarchy, misogyny and sexism in her common podcast, “Long Winded.” She will gab and name ‘em out!
Even when Latinas are intelligent and capable, we are undervalued — and, as a result, one of the most underpaid groups in the States, with the wage gap between us and non-Hispanic white men being the widest in history. Sixty-three percent of Latinas between the ages of 18 to 29 say sexism in the workplace is a problem for them, per a study from Pew Research Institute. According to the same study, 44% of Latina participants reported that, in the last year, they were treated as if they were stupid. That was the most commonly reported experience.
We are often made to feel dumb, frivolous and small, even if we have all the bona fides proving otherwise. That Windey, like so many other Latinas, has also struggled with feeling out of place in her cultural identity, can only add to a feeling of inferiority.
In an interview on Latina TikTok star Tefi Pessoa’s podcast, Windey opened up about how her fraught relationship together with her mother, who’s the Mexican mother or father and whom she has been estranged from for eight years, has made her really feel disconnected from her tradition. She regrets that she prevented mentioning her identification previously.
“I wish I talked about it more on ‘The Bachelor,’ ” she advised Pessoa. “Because I didn’t say anything. Because now when I see someone Mexican, it’s like ‘oh my God.’ You become enamored and you’re like proud of them.”
In a current interview with “The Cut,” nevertheless, Windey assured how proud she is about being Mexican, and the way being embraced by Latina followers has made a serious affect on her sense of belonging. “People in the Latina community will DM me: ‘We claim you. We’re proud of you,’ ” she stated. “That means a lot.”
It was typically irritating seeing Windey being underestimated throughout her time on “The Traitors,” however made her win all of the extra satisfying. And he or she celebrated her win by marrying her longtime companion, comic Robby Hoffman. Windey conquered the citadel with confidence and good vibes, and within the course of, she conquered our hearts.
