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Aleida Diaz is a former inmate of Litchfield Penitentiary. She is played by Elizabeth Rodriguez. Aleida is the mother of current inmate Dayanara Diaz.
Personality
Aleida is a woman who deals with a naive immature ego and does not see mothering in the standard way. She knows she is shady half of the time but she is so needy of love that she weakens and prioritizes her dysfunctional relationship. Even though she does not always display the greatest example, she is funny and passionate and a tough character when she wants to be.
She is often guilty of taking little interest in the responsibilities of motherhood, particularly seen after Daya's siblings are born. Later flashbacks show Aleida as a selfish person being much more concerned with her material lifestyle provided by her boyfriend than her role as a parent. She often leaves Daya to take care of the rest of the children for her. She mocks Daya's idealistic views on love and sees sex and relationships as ways to get material benefits; although in "You Also Have a Pizza", she describes love as "when your cheeks hurt from smiling" but also as "24/7 deep dick fucking". However, Aleida is seen to mature somewhat in Season Three, admitting to Ruiz how much she loved being loved by her children. We also see that she wanted the best for Daya when she was younger, and often agonised over decisions about Daya's development, eventually doing the best thing for her daughter even though it pained her. However, she was quick to snap back into a selfish frame of mind when her daughter became too close to a camp counselor, Stacy.
She is also extremely jealous, often accusing Cesar of cheating on her, especially when he acts kindly towards Daya. She has apparently forgiven him for sleeping with her daughter as she continues to accept his visits. However, in "Don't Make Me Come Back There", when Gloria questions whether Cesar will be able to handle looking after another child - referring to Daya's daughter - Aleida admits to Gloria that she knows Cesar will "slide another girl on his dick and make her help out", and that she knows "he's gotta do what he's gotta do".
Aleida is part of the Latina group of prisoners and enjoys a position second only to Mendoza, with whom she has a close friendship. The development of Aleida and Daya's relationship beautifully rollercoasters throughout the seasons.
Physical Appearance
Aleida is of average height with a petite figure. She has chestnut brown hair in waves which hang just below her shoulders and brown eyes. She is in her 40s.
Biography
For a list of episodes featuring Aleida's flashbacks, see here.
Before Litchfield
Aleida had five children from five different fathers. She often left her eldest daughter, Dayanara, to take care of her other children while she went out to expensive dinners with her boyfriends. She allowed her current boyfriend Cesar to set up a drug lab in her apartment and helped him with manufacturing.
Aleida and Daya's father after the birth of Daya.
She was presumably incarcerated for drug related charges. When her children came to visit her, she demanded to know of Cesar's doings and was disinterested in her children's activities. She accused Daya of sleeping with Cesar, which eventually drove her daughter to initiate a relationship with him.
Season One
Upon Daya's arrival in Litchfield, Aleida welcomes her daughter by slapping her across the face. Since she has adopted Maritza as her prison daughter, she refuses to pay any attention to Daya. Aleida enjoys a high position in the Latina group and has the women exclude Daya on her command.
Eventually, she welcomes Daya into the Latina group because only Daya can thread her eyebrows the way she likes them. "We're family," she says. "We argue but we still do shit for each other". She gives into Daya's demand to be included in the domino games although she makes Daya keep score.
She notices Daya's doodlings of Bennett and quickly figures out the two are in a relationship. She mocks her daughter's naivete and suggests that Daya get involved with guards who can grant her privileges instead. "What do you fuck [men] for? Love?", she laughs. She attempts to seduce Bennett, but he rebuffs her advances.
When Daya becomes pregnant, Aleida tells Cesar, who informs Bennett. She agrees to help her with pregnancy and insist that Bennett do the right thing and support Daya. She disagrees with Bennett's plan to arrange furlough for Daya to cover up his involvement because furlough is hardly ever granted. When she tries to get extra food from the kitchen for Daya, Red approaches her to frame Mendez for rape.
Aleida convinces Daya to go along with Red's plan and when their first attempt fails, she works with Red and her girls to ensure that Daya and Mendez are caught having sex.
When Gloria assumes control of the kitchen, Aleida is seen working along with the other Latina women.
Season Two
Aleida clashes with Gloria when she feels Gloria is becoming too motherly with Daya. "You're not her mother," she tells her. "I didn't get a belly full of stretch marks to be no fucking tia". She steals yogurt from Gloria's mini-fridge, remembering that dairy products used to ease the infant Daya's constipation. She eventually wins her daughter back and their relationship improves, with Daya going to her for advice much more often. Despite the clash, Aleida and Gloria remain close.
Season Three
Aleida meets with Delia Powell, Mendez's mother, about the latter adopting Daya's baby. Aleida agrees as long as Delia sends her money ("Bed Bugs and Beyond").
Daya later figures out that Aleida went behind her back and becomes angry with her. Aleida tries to convince Daya to give the baby up to Delia so that the baby can have a better life. She later recants her opinion and tells Daya to keep the baby. Aleida's stance changes multiple times throughout the season.
After Daya gives birth, Aleida tells Delia that the baby has died. The baby, which is actually alive and healthy, goes to live with Cesar along with Aleida's other children.
After years of fighting and hatred, Aleida and Daya finally hug and share a meaningful moment of reconciliation on the beach of the lake ("Trust No Bitch").
Season Four
Aleida is distraught to find out Cesar Velazquez is sentenced to ten years prison. She has no idea how she'll get her kids and Daya's baby out of foster care. Aleida is told she is viable to be released from prison early, due to good behaviour. She originally tries to pass her GED exam to better secure a job, but the work is beyond her. She wonders what she's going to do for a job when she gets out. Celebrity chef inmate Judy King notes how good Aleida's manicure is and says she'd pay her to do the same for her. Aleida then vows to open a beauty salon when she gets out. She asks Gloria to protect Daya for her.
Aleida is released and picked up by Cesar's current girlfriend Margarita. She is shocked to learn Margarita had a baby with Cesar and the pair clash when it is revealed Margarita has a new boyfriend. She won't wait ten years for Cesar to be released and Aleida walks out. She tries to stay with her cousin Jazmina but finds out Jazmina is completely broke and has sold most of her possessions to try to make ends meet. Aleida returns defeated to Margarita, who was fully expecting her and offers her a place to stay. At the end of the season, Aleida watches Joe Caputo's press announcement about Poussey Washington's death at the prison. He does not state her name, just that a young woman lost her life there. Aleida looks scared as she watches, likely wondering if the victim was Daya.
Season Five
N/A
Relationships
Romantic
- Cesar (boyfriend)
Friends
- Gloria Mendoza (best friend)
- Maritza Ramos (prison daughter)
- Marisol Gonzales
- Maria Ruiz
- Blanca Flores
Family
- Dayanara Diaz (daughter)
- Eva Diaz (Daughter)
- Lucy Diaz (daughter)
- Christina Diaz (daughter)
- Emiliano Diaz (son)
- Armaria (granddaughter)
- Mama Lourdes (mother; mentioned)
- Jazmina (cousin)
Memorable Quotes
- "I'm eating oysters, bitches."
- — Aleida Diaz, "The Chickening"
- "We're family. We fight. We do shit for each other."
- — Aleida Diaz
- "Can't trust a bitch who don't smile with her teeth."
- — Aleida Diaz
- "What do you fuck them [men] for? Love? Ay!"
- — Aleida Diaz, "The Chickening"
- "Tell me how it's also dark at night and cold in the snow."
- — Aleida Diaz
- "Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean we gotta be all 'Kumbaya'."
- — Aleida Diaz, 'Turn Table Turn'
- "Just what I need, a fairy god chink."
- — Aleida to Brook Soso
- "Ay, Dios mio, between the two of yous, this child's gonna be 100% retard."
- — to Daya and Bennett in ("Tall Men with Feelings")
Gallery
Season 1
Promotional Photos
"I Wasn't Ready"
Others
