The Tragic Drama That Everyone's Binging On Netflix Right Now

Raised in Long Beach, California, with five other siblings, Rivera had a close-knit family that introduced her to Mexican music of all types. She went to school, got straight A's, then found herself pregnant at 15. Though initially she thought she had to drop out of school, everyone around her, including her school counselors, saw too much promise in Rivera and pushed her to get her GED. She did, and even became the class valedictorian. 

Rivera got a degree in business and started working in real estate. Yet, then life changed after she sent a recording of herself singing to her father as a gift in 1994, and it sparked the beginning of her huge music career. Rivera went through many struggles on her path to success, including sexual abuse and sexism in the music industry. She continually wrote music and spoke out about not conforming to gender expectations, protecting women from abuse, and other major issues, and she did a lot of philanthropy work during her lifetime. Sadly, Rivera died in a plane crash in 2012. 

Mariposa de Barrio recounts all the victories and tragedies Rivera faced. The series stars Angélica Celaya as an adult Rivera. Regina Orquín plays the character from the ages of 9 to 12, and Samadhi Zendejas from the ages of 13 to 25. Gabriel Porras plays her father Pedro, with Rosalinda Rodríguez playing her mother, Rosa.