It’s girl power on ‘Jenni Rivera Presents Chiquis and Raq-C’
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“The Hills” had Lauren and Heidi. Then Lauren and Whitney. Or was it Lauren and Audrina? Wait. Kristin and Audrina? (Whatever. You get the picture.) “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” spawned “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami.” Now there’s a new female tag-team taking on the reality TV world: Janney “Chiquis” Marin and Raquel ‘Raq-C’ Cordova.
Chiquis, 24, is the mild-mannered eldest daughter of Mexican music star Jenni Rivera (yes, the queen of banda). Raq-C, 28, is the rambunctious radio personality who keeps Angelenos entertained with her spunky talk on Latino 96.3, a reggaeton station. Together, the best friends are “bringing some realness to reality TV” in “Jenni Rivera Presents Chiquis and Raq-C,” which premiered earlier this month on bilingual cable network mun2.
“We’re giving you our reality, none of that scripted stuff,” Raq-C said. “It’s just me, Chiquis and Jenny being who we are — the genuine girls who aren’t embarrassed to eat tacos and sopes. Who aren’t afraid to speak our minds. We’re like a lot of girls in a lot of ways. We do sometimes worry about our body image, having cellulite and bad skin. It’s definitely not like ‘The Hills.’ We’re not practicing lines. We’re very unexpected. We’re in your face.”
The show, executive produced by Rivera (hence the title), mostly follows the BFFs — sometimes without makeup or in sweats (talk about real!) — and their Hollywood lifestyle. From the hard work Chiquis faces as she handles Rivera’s business empire and Raq-C’s struggle as she attempts to buy her first home to family drama and club-hopping. There’s even an overheated convertible to deal with.
But it’s all that club footage that has Chiquis a little worried, especially if her uncles are watching.
“It took a while to get used to the cameras,” she said. “It was an education in how to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I let loose on the show. It’s going to be very surprising to see how my mom and uncles react after each episode. They’re going to see a side of Chiquis that they don’t usually see. It’s a little weird. I’m kind of nervous.”
It’s not all partying and boy talk. Viewers will watch the friends open up about “intimate, personal issues” from their past. In 2007, Jose Trinidad Marin, Rivera’s ex-husband, was convicted of molesting their two daughters and Rivera’s sister.
“Chiquis and I were willing to go there because we feel, by sharing our stories, other young ladies — and even guys — will be able to adress their own issues,” Raq-C said. “And, if nothing else, it helped us to talk about them.”
The friends, who met five years ago backstage at one of Rivera’s concerts, aren’t looking to become reality TV’s next phenomenon.
“We’re just trying to show the reality of our reality,” Raq-C said. “It’ll surprise people. Plus, Chiquis likes to be in the nude a lot. We’ll just leave it at that.”
“Jenni Rivera Presents Chiquis and Raq-C” airs Saturdays at 3 p.m. on mun2.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s episode, which tackles the age-old question: Should you date a friend’s ex?
— Yvonne Villarreal
Video credit: mun2
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