For millions of fans across Latin America, the U.S. and beyond the Spanish-speaking world, there is only one question that matters whenever Ana María Orozco appears on screen:
What's next for Betty?
The actress finally has an answer.
More than 25 years after 'Yo soy Betty, la fea' became a global television phenomenon, Orozco revealed that the third season of Prime Video's 'Betty la Fea: La Historia Continúa' has completed production and is ready for audiences.
"We've already finished it. It's ready to be released," Orozco told this reporter during a conversation that quickly turned into a nostalgic journey through one of television's most beloved franchises, and the timing is no coincidence.
Orozco recently reunited with longtime co-stars Jorge Enrique Abello (Don Armando) and Lorna Cepeda (La Peliteñida) for a new Verizon campaign reviving the familiar chaos of Ecomoda and the endless headaches Betty somehow always manages to solve for Don Armando.
The campaign was inspired in part by new Verizon research showing widespread frustration with everyday complexity. According to a survey commissioned by the company, 61% of Americans say they feel overwhelmed by routine tasks, while more than half said they would rather spend time at the DMV than try to understand the fine print of a service plan. By placing Betty in the role of problem-solver once again, Verizon aims to connect with consumers who are looking for straightforward solutions rather than complicated choices, while tapping into the nostalgia of one of the most beloved television franchises in the Spanish-speaking world.
But while the commercial may have brought fans a dose of nostalgia, it was Orozco's update on Betty's future that stole the show.
"We thought it was very timely to do this campaign now because it accompanies Betty's return," she said. "We're going to have a very strong Betty year."
That return carries unusual weight.
When Yo soy Betty, la fea premiered in Colombia in 1999, few could have predicted it would become one of the most successful television formats in history. The story of an intelligent but underestimated economist working at fashion company Ecomoda traveled to more than 180 countries, inspired dozens of local adaptations, and eventually produced the Emmy-winning American version, 'Ugly Betty,' starring America Ferrera.
Even after decades, Betty remains one of the rare television characters capable of connecting multiple generations.
That reality became clear to Orozco recently when she learned about a podcast hosted by actors from Ugly Betty, who are revisiting episodes of the American adaptation and sharing behind-the-scenes memories with fans.
The conversation sparked an idea that instantly excited the actress: bringing together the many women who have played Betty around the world.
When told that fans would love to see a "multiverse of Bettys," Orozco didn't hesitate.
"Incredible, wouldn't it? Wonderful," she said. "I didn't know about that."
The concept may sound fanciful, but few franchises are better positioned for such a reunion. From Ferrera in the United States to adaptations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Betty has become a truly global character, perhaps more recognizable internationally than many Hollywood superheroes.
For Orozco, however, returning to the original Betty remains special.
The Verizon campaign offered the cast an opportunity to revisit the classic versions of their characters without pretending that time has stood still. "We wanted to recreate those characters in a timeless way," she explained. "We're evoking that classic Betty."
The production returned to Bogotá, where crews recreated the iconic Ecomoda offices that became as famous as the characters themselves.
"Bogotá is the heart of the story," Orozco said. "Everything was recreated exactly."
Fans may also be surprised to learn that the actress never became overly attached to Betty's physical transformation, despite the braces, glasses, and memorable wardrobe becoming pop-culture staples.
In fact, one of the few souvenirs she kept from the original production was Betty's watch. The famous braces, meanwhile, seem to have disappeared somewhere over the years.
Yet some things have never changed.
When Orozco mentioned the upcoming season, her excitement was unmistakable. So was her appreciation for the audience that has followed Betty for more than a quarter-century.
The Verizon reunion may have been designed to celebrate a familiar workplace dynamic, but it ended up reminding viewers of something bigger: Betty never really left.
Now, with a new season waiting in the wings and the possibility of future reunions that could bring together Bettys from around the world, the franchise is entering yet another chapter.
Twenty-seven years after audiences first met Beatriz Pinzón Solano, her story continues to evolve.
And according to the woman who knows her best, Betty is just getting started.
