[[foldercontrol]]
!Major Characters
[[folder: Betty Suarez]]

!Beatriz "Betty" Suarez (Creator/AmericaFerrera)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/betty_suarez.jpg]]

A young woman trying to make it on her own, Betty Suarez is the main protagonist of the show. She lives in Queens with her widowed father Ignacio, older sister Hilda and nephew Justin, and works as an assistant to the Editor In Chief at Mode Magazine. She quickly learns that working at Mode will test the very fibers of her character, yet she remains resilient and excited in spite of all the conspiracies, drama and heartbreak she suffers. She hopes to be a journalist someday and will often take the chance to pursue her ambition. A role model for all girls everywhere in the view of the show's writers, she's liable to both give and receive [[AnAesop Aesops]]. By the way, she's [[HollywoodHomely not so much ugly as she has a really bad/strange fashion sense]].

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* AllegedlyDateless: Quite a lot of love triangles for one so "ugly".
* AnimalMotifs: Butterflies, symbolic of Betty's own metamorphoses.
* BadassAdorable: She's a sweet, cheerful, feminine young woman with a colorful (even when unfortunate) sense of style but she is also very determined and when you get on her bad side, she will warn you she is from Queens and will get physical.
* BeautifulAllAlong: Starts off with limp hair, braces, and an unfortunate fashion sense. As the series goes on she starts styling her hair differently, her fashion sense is a little more polished and professional (though no less colorful) and starts showing off her figure, and becomes official in the final episodes when she loses her braces.
* BespectacledCutie: An dorky but cute girl who donned a pair of large glasses
* BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill: She wore very obvious braces and has been lampshaded in one episode that she could have been considered very beautiful if she had perfect teeth.
* BrainyBrunette: A clever and competent brunette.
* BreakTheCutie: So many attempts are made to do this over the show, Betty pushes through all of them. Notably the pilot.
* ButtMonkey: The show puts her through a lot of terrible situations, often played for humor at her expense.
* CoolAunt: To Justin, giving him guidance and even allowing him to come with her to work (even getting him an internship), they even play Dance, Dance Revolution together. They are also closer in age as she was likely a preteen when he was born.
* CuteClumsyGirl: Despite her competence, Betty is also very clumsy, often knocking into things, most notably plexiglass windows.
* DudeMagnet: She's had several men trying to win her affections over the course of the series, including her boss.
* FamilyVersusCareer: This is more so in the 3rd season. Weirdly, she doesn't even have children or a husband, and the family member screaming for the attention is her sister, who already is home with their ill father on a daily basis anyway.
* FishOutOfWater: Especially in the earlier episodes, where she first moves from Queens to a new place and struggled to fit in.
* GirlFriday: To Daniel, she's usually the reason behind his success working behind the scenes.
* TheGlassesGottaGo: Thankfully averted when she gets her makeover. She does, however, get more fashionable glasses in the GrandFinale.
%%* GoGetterGirl:
* HypercompetentSidekick: To Daniel, especially in the early seasons. She saved his job many ''many'' times.
* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Subverted. Betty doesn't have a crush on Daniel like in the other versions of the show, and in the end it's him that develops feelings first.
* ImportantHaircut: Part of Betty's makeover near the end of the show is getting one.
* KickTheDog: [[https://youtu.be/rQ_lBtyfwBU Literally happens]]. Fortunately, it was just a fantasy sequence.
* MissingMom: Betty's mother, Rosa, died pre-series.
%%* NaiveEverygirl: Especially in earlier episodes. Though Betty has become less naive since then, she's still, of course, as idealistic as ever.
* NerdGlasses: She wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses.
* NerdsAreSexy: Her many boyfriends throughout the series tend to agree.
* NiceGirl: Easily one of the most empathetic and nice characters on the show.
* OddFriendship: Quickly befriends the rich womanizing Daniel. She also becomes friends with Amanda and Marc later in the story.
* OnlySaneEmployee: Betty is this by miles when she first joins Mode (aside from Christina, her OnlyFriend and the other OnlySaneEmployee).
* PluckyOfficeGirl: Starts out with a dowdy style that earns sneers from co-workers who are more fashionable and thinner than her, she works her way up and stands up for herself many times, earning respect or knowing how to deflect her co-workers' cruel insults.
* ThePollyanna: No matter what gets thrown her way, Betty faces it with a smile.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: The "Responsible" of the Suarez sisters.
* RummageSaleReject[=/=]ImpossiblyTackyClothes: A lot of Betty's clothes from the first few seasons, this starts to change as to time went on.
* SpicyLatina: Averted. Though there are moments where she reminds Marc that she's from Queens and will hit him.
* TeamMom: Betty consistently attempts to be this to pretty much ''everybody'' around her.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Daniel Meade]]

!Daniel Meade (Creator/EricMabius)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/daniel_meade_1.jpg]]

Betty's somewhat incompetent boss, though he does try sometimes. TheUnFavorite of the Meade family (which owns the company) he often spends his days LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him wherever he goes, his own included. He and Betty tend to take turns being each other's rock and evolve from simple boss/assistant relationship into close friends. In the show's finale the relationship [[spoiler: was left open-ended, though various hints throughout the episode possibly imply that they HookedUpAfterwards, the most obvious being that Daniel decides to stay in London for no discernible reason other than that Betty happens to be there. It remains unclear, however, if Betty feels the same way, though she does smile at his arrival]]

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* BeardOfSorrow: Daniel grows this several times over the run of the show.
* BiggerIsBetterInBed: When a nude Daniel walks in on Wilhelmina mistaking her for Renee Willie admits she finds his package quite impressive.
* CharacterTic: Has a tendency to smile while giving a thumbs up when lying.
* CoolUncle: To [[spoiler:DJ]], when it's revealed [[spoiler:he's actually Alexis's son]].
* CynicismCatalyst: His brother's death weighs heavily on his mind.
* GoodFeelsGood: Takes someone else taking the credit for his "Normal People" modeling show in stride. Even comments on how good it feels.
* HeroWithAnFInGood: Many attempts to do right either go unnoticed or end up failing.
* HiddenDepths: At first comes off as a party animal but as the series progresses he shows tremendous character development.
* HonestCorporateExecutive: Tries to be one, with Betty's help.
* IAmNotMyFather: Tries his hardest to escape his father's shadow.
* InnocentBlueEyes: Fitting his NiceGuy but idealistic personality.
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Daniel is an alumnus of Harvard. To be fair, his family is loaded, so he could easily afford to go there and get the best SAT prep available.
* LadyKillerInLove: He's a womanizer but falls for a LoveInterest at least once per season.
* LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces:
** Poor Daniel always goes after the pretty ones, who more often than not, screw him over.
** Averted slightly with Molly. She's pretty, but he loves her beyond that, and they had a real connection.
* LoveEpiphany: In "The Past Presents the Future", he realizes he has feelings for Betty.
* LukeYouAreMyFather: A French boy called DJ (Daniel Jr) shows up claiming to be Daniel's son. Subverted in that he's actually [[spoiler:Daniel's nephew]].
* MillionairePlayboy: Especially at the start of the show. He even starts a magazine titled ''Player'' that's a BlandNameProduct of ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}''.
* NiceGuy: Much of his character is him being nice or trying to be.
* NiceToTheWaiter: He's very nice and respectful to his employees.
* ReallyGetsAround: He's had a string of relationships. If anything, this is why his father, Bradford, hired Betty is because, to his logic, Daniel wouldn't want to sleep with someone supposedly as "unattractive" as Betty.
* RealMenWearPink: Daniel sure does wear a lot of purple for a straight man. Who works in fashion, admittedly.
* SharpDressedMan: His clothing of choice often consists or dark suits contrasted with very colorful shirts and ties.
* SiblingRivalry: Has one with Alex over control of Meade.
* TheUnfavourite: Is often compared to his older sister Alex.
* UpperClassTwit: At the start of the series, at least.
* WellDoneSonGuy: His relationship with his father is messy at best.

[[/folder]]
!![=MODE=] Magazine
[[folder: Wilhelmina Slater]]

!Wilhelmina Slater (Music/VanessaWilliams)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wilhelmina_slater.jpg]]

Head Creative Assistant and daughter of a Senator, she's a woman of quick wit and versatility which she uses for selfish reasons. Her ultimate desire is to run a magazine and attempts to take over Mode Magazine numerous times. One of the most complicated characters, she performs the role of a CardCarryingVillain yet is not above the occasional PetTheDog moment. She has an estranged daughter named Nico and is Marc's manager.

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* BigBad: She is the primary antagonist of the story.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: She acts nice but is the opposite.
* ButNotTooBlack: Wilhelmina underwent surgery and skin bleaching in order to conform to the fashion industry's standards as a model.
* CardCarryingVillain: She and Marc often call their schemes "evil" with complete sincerity.
* TheChessmaster: Always has an elaborate plan at hand to get back into Mode's good books, usually involving Marc and any number of her 'contacts'.
* TheCorrupter:
** As Tyler's AA sponsor, though that [[HoistByHisOwnPetard didn't work out so well for her]].
** And presumably to Marc sometime prior to the pilot. In fact, Wilhelmina seems to consider it her sworn duty to teach anyone who works for her the proper way to scheme and plot.
* DealWithTheDevil: Don't make deals with Wilhelmina... just don't.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Wilhelmina does soften slightly throughout the series, especially to Marc, Daniel and sometimes Betty.
** The finale implies she learned her lesson since being nice actually earned her what she wanted.
* TheDragon: Early On to Alexis. Also during her life as Wanda, Fey Sommers' assistant.
%%* FauxAffablyEvil
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Can be plotting Daniel's downfall in one episode to being his ally in another very often.
* HeelFaceTurn / HeelRealization: In the finale, especially after Marc chews her out.
* IcyBlueEyes: To reflect her cold, icy demeanor.
* ItsAllAboutMe: She really wants the magazine to succeed. As long as she runs it, of course.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Her antagonism towards Daniel (and Betty by proxy) rises from the fact that she has worked ''decades'' at the magazine, has ruled her department with an iron first and was obviously the most competent eligible person to take over after Fey's demise. But job was given to Bradford Meade's son (someone younger than her with no experience) out of blatant {{Nepotism}}. She had every reason to be bitter about it, but her questionable methods are obviously too much.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: She can be nice, deep down.
* ManipulativeBitch: It's usually scheming or manipulating people in order to oust Daniel and Betty and take control of the magazine.
* ModelingIsGlamorous: Wilhelmina Slater was a rich girl turned supermodel, who was able to parlay her successful career into a high-powered fashion magazine executive. Her taste for the finer things in life has remained constant throughout, as has her imperious personality.
* MsFanservice: She's a seductress that often wears glamorous and revealing outfits.
* MustMakeAmends: When she protects Claire from Tyler at the end of the penultimate episode.
%%* NakedInMink
%%* KickTheDog: Wilhelmina does this almost every episode.
* PetTheDog: Rare in earlier seasons, but quite often in Season Four. Usually to Marc, Daniel or even ''Betty''. In the finale, she even admits that she will miss Betty.
* RichBitch: Rich, check. Bitch, oh so check. {{Lampshaded}}
--> '''Claire''': You may wanna rethink your wardrobe, Wilhemina. Gonna have a little trouble convincing them you need money wearing [[PrettyInMink mink]].
--> '''Wilhemina''': It's not mink, darling, it's chinchilla!
--> '''Claire''': Well, whatever it is you look like a RichBitch!
* SilverVixen: She is a middle-aged woman and is still very Miss America beautiful and has even performed the role of TheVamp a few times.
* TakingTheBullet: An unusual example; she didn't really intend to take the bullet from [[spoiler:Tyler for Claire (in fact, Tyler accidentally fired the gun), but she did save her life]]. She gets better.
* TheVamp: She played this role, initially, to seduce Bradford.
* VillainDecay: While still a danger at times, her backstabbing and scheming wane significantly as the series goes on. She undergoes the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor several times per season due to personal hangups, familial conflicts and the old "my career" vs "my soul" conflict.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Zig-zagged in that whenever it seems things couldn't go wrong they do. Invoked in "Bananas for Betty". She gives expensive designer clothes to homeless people, sings to sick children, and makes sure TV cameras happen to be there to let everyone know what a good person she is. It turns out to be AllForNothing when later that night, she slams Creator/BettyWhite's [[{{Fingore}} finger in a car door]] and callously states "I'm Wilhelmina Slater and I don't get wet."
* VisionaryVillain: She really, ''really'' cares for and loves MODE and will do anything to have a permanent share of it. As of Season Four, she has succeeded and has an equal 50% control with Daniel. At the end of the series, she has complete control, but ''not'' by treacherous means.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Inverted. She and her father used to be pretty close but her ambitions is what made them grow distant.
* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Her daughter Nico got herself ExpelledFromEveryOtherSchool as a cry for attention from her emotionally distant mother.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Marc St. James]]

!Marc St. James (Creator/MichaelUrie)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marc.jpg]]

Wilhelmina's BattleButler and CampGay assistant. Marc takes pleasure at being catty to friends and enemies alike though he too has the occasional PetTheDog moment.

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* BattleButler: Not afraid to get his hands dirty to get the job done.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Mark always is shown to be very friendly and supportive of Justin. Giving him advice and encouragement when needed.
* CampGay: Very much so. He behaves in a stereotypically flamboyant manner and makes puns and witty jokes on suggestive terms like "flaming" and "out."
* DeadpanSnarker: Most of his dialogue is this, especially when paired with Amanda.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Male version - no gay jokes, please. Marc becomes quite close to Betty come to the end of the series, and even Daniel in his own way.
* TheDragon: As the personal assistant of BigBad Wilhelmina.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Marc draws the line at hiding evidence that could exonerate Claire.
--> '''Marc:''' I do a lot of morally questionable things for Wilhelmina, but none of it is technically criminal.
* GayBestFriend: For Amanda, a lot of the show's humor comes from their dynamic and they even got their own spin-off web-series.
* HiddenDepths: Who would have thought the snarky, gay assistant, who picks on people's dreams, would want to own a magazine one day?
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Marc really is a nice guy behind his cattiness.
* MentorInQueerness: To Justin.
* MoralityPet: To Wilhelmina, especially in the finale.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Justin, more so as the series goes on (though he still thinks Justin is Betty's son), which eventually got Hilda jealous.
* PetTheDog: With Amanda, Justin, and occasionally Betty.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Amanda. They have a co-dependent relationship; she often pretended to [[TheBeard be his girlfriend]] to help him hide from his mother that he was gay, and he has taken risks to protect her job from Wilhelmina. They even starred together on their own spin-off web-series "Mode After Hours".
* TheRival: To Betty, as he's Wilhelmina's personal assistant just like Betty is Daniel's.
* YesMan: Until about season 3 and 4 where he becomes more vocal about his discontents.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Amanda Tanen]]

!Amanda Tanen (Creator/BeckiNewton)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amanda_tanen.jpg]]

A SassySecretary (technically a receptionist) at ''[=MODE=]'' who serves as Marc's FagHag and tags along with him whenever it involves pranking or demeaning others. Though she's conniving and catty she's not too intelligent (i.e. not knowing what wrath means) and is highly impulsive. Despite this she is not completely bitchy and, like every other main character, has plenty PetTheDog moments. In more recent episodes, she, Marc and Betty seem to have formed some kind of loose trio.

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* AdoptedToTheHouse: Amanda gets kicked out of her apartment after going deep into debt and maxing out her credit cards. When Betty finds her living at the MODE offices, she invites herself to become Betty's roommate in her new apartment, where she's generally a pest but has her PetTheDog moments (like getting a second job at a BurgerFool with a BadJobWorseUniform when she loses the rent money).
* AmbiguouslyBi: Later in the story, Amanda seems to have something of a girl crush on Betty.
* AttentionWhore: Amanda is often desperate to become famous and the center of attention.
* BadJobWorseUniform: After she loses the rent money in "Bad Amanda", she gets a second job at a BurgerFool to help pay her share. She rushes out of the office, hiding her uniform under a coat.
* TheBrainlessBeauty: Downplayed, as she may not be the smartest, however, Amanda is more of a sensitive genius, often being very emphatic when the situation truly requires it, she's also shown to have some degree of street smarts and is a very competent stylist.
* TheBeard: Played this role often for Marc.
* BigEater: Mainly when under stress.
* DeadpanSnarker: Not as much as Marc, but it's still there.
* DefrostingIceQueen: To Betty throughout the series.
* FagHag: Mostly to her GayBestFriend Marc, but being a secretary in a fashion magazine has her hang around many gay men. She even turned a few.
* FriendsWithBenefits: Becomes one with Daniel in Season 4, though she was sleeping with him as early as Season 1.
%%zce* HaveIMentionedIAmADwarfToday: After she finds out, it's rare for her to get through a conversation without mentioning it at least once.
* HomeNudist: Implied, given when she's found walking around in the buff at when she's living at Mode after she's been evicted.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Seems like a vain, mean woman at first, but seems to genuinely care about that she likes.
* LukeIAmYourFather: She finds out her mother is the legendary editor-in-chief Fey Sommers in Season 1.
* LovableAlphaBitch: The grown-up version.
* MisterMuffykins: Halston, her deceased mother's pet dog.
* MsFanservice: Often wears very revealing and glamorous outfits, and it doesn't take much to get her out of them.
* PetTheDog: Mostly with Marc, but she can be occasionally kind to Betty. In later seasons, they become full-blown friends.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Marc. They have a co-dependent relationship; she often pretended to [[TheBeard be his girlfriend]] to help him hide from his mother that he was gay, and he has taken risks to protect her job from Wilhelmina. They even starred together on their own spin-off web-series "Mode After Hours".
* PrettyFreeloaders: In Season 3 when she got evicted from her house. She even crashed at MODE for a while, [[FavorsForTheSexy by seducing one of the security guards]], and crashes with Betty for a while.
* ReallyGetsAround: Sleeps around as often as Daniel.
* TheRival: To Betty, as Amanda wants her job as Daniel's assistant.
* SassySecretary: Not often to her superiors, but she's very sassy with her coworkers.
* SexySecretary: She's also this, comes with being a secretary and a MsFanservice.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: She seems almost devoid of modesty, doing things such as walking around naked in MODE before it opens or taking a [[InformedPoverty bubble bath in the middle of Betty's house]].
* StupidSexyFlanders: There are a lot of implications that she has a bi-curious crush on Betty. She's also had her moments with Wilhelmina and Christina.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Her relationship with Betty has progressed toward this.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Christina [=McKinney=]]]

!Christina [=McKinney=](Creator/AshleyJensen)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/christina_mckinney.jpg]]

Betty's best friend at work, Christina is a FunnyForeigner from UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}}, which means she drinks a lot and uses all that hilarious Scottish slang. Her purpose on the show was originally being Betty's only friend among the Modies, making her TheArtifact from the days when the show was more of a FishOutOfWater comedy. As a result, Christina was OutOfFocus a lot in later episodes. She was PutOnABus at the end of the third season, and returned in the third-to-last episode when Betty, Hilda, and Amanda visited London.

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* TheArtifact: Christina doesn't really fit into the show during her last few episodes. Granted Betty doesn't either, but she has more reason for being there.
* BestFriend: She's Betty best friend and ally at Mode at the start of the story.
* DeadpanSnarker: Often gets into some SnarkToSnarkCombat with Marc and Amanda.
* FunnyForeigner: Christina is often mocked for being Scottish, but is also a humorous character herself.
* OnlySaneEmployee: She's the most normal person at Mode.
* OutOfFocus: At some points, Christina only existed to pop up and give Betty advice.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot:
** Christina was originally written as an American and was only made Scottish after Jensen was cast.
** Also, one of the main reasons for Christina becoming OutOfFocus (and then being PutOnABus) was because the show relocated production from Los Angeles to New York, causing a conflict for Ashley Jensen who was then residing in California and unable to relocate.
* UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}}: Has that gorgeous accent.

[[/folder]]
!!The Suarezes

[[folder: Ignacio Suarez]]
!Ignacio Suarez (Creator/TonyPlana)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ignacio_suarez.jpg]]

Betty's elderly dad. He's an illegal immigrant from Mexico, but not one who was just looking for a better life. No, that would be too boring. Instead, he was on the run after having killed a man (a rather unpleasant man, though, who later turned out to be [[BackFromTheDead not-quite-so-dead]]).

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* DayTimeDramaQueen: Ignacio seems to have nothing else to do but hang around watching {{Telenovela}}s.
* DotingParent: Almost overwhelmingly so to his girls, to his grandson Justin, and usually to Betty or Hilda's love interests.
* MoralityPet: Somewhat this for both Betty and Hilda.
* OpenMindedParent: He is pretty open when it comes to his daughter's dating lives (unlike the usual stereotype of Latino men being the MachoLatino who commits TwerpSweating) and very accepting (and encouraging) about his teenage grandson being gay and dating a boy.
* PapaWolf: He's extremely protective of his daughters and grandson.
* SupremeChef: He has great cooking. As we find out, this is how he met Rosa, as he used to work as a chef in the restaurant.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Hilda Suarez]]

!Hilda Suarez (Creator/AnaOrtiz)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hilda_suarez.JPG]]

Betty's rather shallow sister with whom she's embroiled in TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry. Hilda may or may not be [[ReallyGetsAround Miss Yo-Yo Knickers]], but she at least dresses like her.

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* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: She doesn't have the best choice in men.
* AnimalMotifs: Hilda tends to wear clothes with animal prints, which add to her Queens woman image.
* BigSisterInstinct: Towards Betty.
* ChattyHairdresser: All with that gorgeous accent of hers.
* CoolBigSis: To Betty.
* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Somewhat this with Betty, but they are very close for the most part.
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: The "Foolish" of the Suarez sisters.
* HiddenDepths: While Hilda is often portrayed as slightly shallow and ditzy, her Spanish is much better than Betty's, and it's implied that she's actually fluent.
* MamaBear: Just try hurting Justin, or Betty for that matter.
* MissingMom: Her and Betty's mother, Rosa, died in 2004, some time pre-series.
* OpenMindedParent: [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness In contrast to her first appearance when she tells Justin only girls worry about their weight]], she is very accepting and encouraging of Justin having traditionally feminine interests and when finding out he is gay, her instinct is to throw a party for him to celebrate his identity.
* SiblingYinYang: Hilda is beautiful, somewhat shallow, and not all that smart compared to Betty who might be plainer looking, but is very warm and intelligent.
* SingleMomStripper: Sort of at one point.
* SpicyLatina: She acts more this than Betty does.
* ReallyGetsAround: It's implied that she's this.
* TeenPregnancy: Which resulted in Justin.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Justin Suarez]]

!Justin Suarez (Creator/MarkIndelicato)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/justin_suarez.JPG]]

Hilda's son and therefore Betty's nephew. Justin is AmbiguouslyGay for most of the series, but he eventually comes out as TheTwink when he hits his teen years. Largely used as a plot device for the Marc character, who serves as a mentor for the kid.

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* AmbiguouslyGay: He acts very CampGay and eventually sees Marc as TheMentor. Though he did get a boyfriend near the end of the show.
%%* AuthorAvatar
* DisappearedDad: Who eventually died.
* ElephantInTheLivingRoom: See ambiguously gay, above.
* PerformanceArtist: Justin is quite the little actor and dancer.
* TellMeAboutMyFather: Wants to know his real father.
* TransparentCloset: Until Season 4.
* TheTwink: Starting in season 4.
* WellDoneSonGuy: After his father died, he temporarily tried to become a beer-drinking girl-chasing basketball player in his memory.

[[/folder]]
!!The Meades

[[folder: Claire Meade]]

!Claire Meade (Creator/JudithLight)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/claire_meade.jpg]]

Daniel and Alexis' mother. Originally introduced as LadyDrunk, she now just wants her family back together and serves as a reluctant mentor for Betty, who often is scared of Claire's cold-blooded side. In the first season, she admitted to murdering Fey Sommers and was sent to CardboardPrison, which she escaped from, of course. Later on, it was {{Ret Con}}ned that she hadn't meant to kill Fey, enabling the others to [[ClearMyName Clear Her Name]].

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* TheAlcoholic: Out of the whole cast. She was a heavy drinker for much of the show.
* ClearMyName: After being accused of killing Fey Sommers.
* CoolOldLady: How Betty sees her.
* DeadpanSnarker: She has quite the sharp tongue.
* LadyDrunk: A middle-aged/old woman who won't pass up a chance for a drink.
* MamaBear: Don't mess with her kids.
* MoralityPet: For Daniel, Alexis, and Bradford.
* OpenMindedParent: Isn't bothered by Alexis sex change, all she cares is that she's alive again.
* PetTheDog: She's one of the few characters at Mode who's actually nice to Betty right away.
* ShipperOnDeck: Claire shipped Daniel and Betty as early as Season 3.
* WrongfulAccusationInsurance: Possibly justified - the Meades are filthy rich, after all.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Alexis Meade]]

!Alex/Alexis Meade (Creator/ElizabethPennPayne / Creator/RebeccaRomijn)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alexis_meade.jpg]]

Daniel's Transgender sister. She was [[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind The Woman]] in early episodes, but then had a HeelFaceTurn, leaving Wilhelmina to pick up the evil slack. Alexis is [[DependingOnTheWriter not very consistently written]] and as a result her personality seems to repeatedly switch between "loving sibling with a competitive streak" and "evil bitch". PutOnABus at the start of the third season. Not seen after that, but occasionally mentioned.

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* AloofBigSister: To Daniel, though she does warm up.
* BandagedFace: Was always seen with once in her early appearances.
* BigBad: Was briefly built up as this in the early episodes, but had an HeelFaceTurn and become more of a TheRival towards Daniel until she was PutOnABus.
* BrokenAce: While Daniel always thought their father treated Alexis like the golden child, Alexis informed him that the real reason Bradford spent so much time taking part in characteristically masculine activities was to try and "cure" Alexis's desire to be a woman, which caused her a lot of trauma.
* DependingOnTheWriter: Alexis could either be a total bitch, or genuinely nice.
* FakingTheDead: She faked her death while she underwent her sex change and plotted to take control of Mode from her father.
* HeelFaceTurn: She does this a few times.
* TheManBehindTheMan: For the first half of season one, Wilhelmina appeared to be working for her.
* ManIFeelLikeAWoman:
** Alexis used to be Alex.
** Actually made into a plot point. Alexis gets hit with amnesia, making her forget that she underwent her transition and that for all she knows, she's still Alex but suddenly put in a female body. While the amnesia lasts, she reverts back to her previous male personality: her speech patterns are rougher and more masculine, she goes to the men's room, and she overdoes her make-up (although she becomes better over time).
* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: Well she started off male, and came back female.
* OldFriendNewGender: Obviously with her sex change.
* PutOnABus: Eventually left the show with her son, DJ.
* SobriquetSexSwitch: Goes from "Alex" to "Alexis".
* TomboyishName: Of a unisex variety, as "Alex" could be a shorter form of Alexander or two letters off from "Alexis".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Bradford Meade]]

!Bradford Meade (Creator/AlanDale)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bradford_meade.jpg]]

Daniel and Alexis' dad who died in the second season. He was the one who hired Betty in the first place, under the twisted logic that since Betty was ugly, his son would not have sex with her and actually get work done.

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* AbusiveParents: Most of Daniel and Alexis's issues were born from the pressure he put on both of them.
* CharacterDeath: Died in the second season, but appeared as a vision to Betty later on.
* FakeAmerican: Alan Dale is a New Zealander.
* GuessWhoImMarrying: Wilhelmina, of course.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Despite giving Daniel a hard time for his womanizing, he almost ruins their company when he marries Wilhelmina.
* IKissYourFoot: He has a foot fetish, and Wilhelmina takes advantage of it to seduce him.
[[/folder]]
!!Other

[[folder: Fey Sommers]]

!Fey Sommers (Creator/ChristineJones / Creator/BeckiNewton)

A PosthumousCharacter who died shortly before the {{pilot}}. Bradford was having an affair with her, but Claire found out and murdered her - or at least that was the story until it [[RetCon turned out it wasn't Claire's fault]]. At the end of the first season, Amanda discovered Fey was her biological mother. After this occurred, Becki Newton, who plays Amanda, started portraying Fey in {{Flash Back}}s.

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* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Fey Sommers is made to look like ''Vogue'' editor Anna Wintour. (Winter... summer, [[DontExplainTheJoke get it?]])
* PosthumousCharacter: Died before the show, is only present in flashbacks.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Her daughter is Amanda, and given her actress started to play Fey in flashbacks, they of course look identical.

[[/folder]]

!Love Interests

[[folder: Standard Betty Boyfriend]]

!Standard Betty Boyfriend

The Standard Betty Boyfriend is a curious specimen. He starts off as a lovably quirky guy, but SexChangesEverything and he immediately turns into TheObstructiveLoveInterest if they ever hook up. After the fans [[ShippingBedDeath become annoyed enough]], the writers give Betty a new boyfriend and the Great Cycle Of Love repeats again.
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* Walter (Creator/KevinSussman, early season one) - An entity of pure evil who was was PutOnABus in shame after fifteen episodes. As he was introduced after he had already reached the obstructive stage, he ended up being TheScrappy. Betty tended to be MistakenForCheating by him (even though he expected her to ignore the fact that he cheated on her) and he showed her NoSympathy when her ridiculously convoluted work and home life prevented her from spending time with him. Seriously, what were the writers thinking?
* Henry Grubstick (Creator/ChristopherGorham, late season one through season two) - A cute nerd and Betty's first real love. At first a breath of fresh air after Walter, but then it turned out he got some other girl pregnant and things went downhill from there. He's had at least four tearful goodbyes with Betty where he was moving back to Tucson "forever", but still proceeds to show up in NYC whenever the writers need some pointless drama.
* Gio Rossi (Creator/FreddyRodriguez, season two to early season three) - Immediately formed a Henry-Betty-Gio LoveTriangle when he first appeared on the scene, and the season finale forced Betty to choose between them. She chose neither, and he was PutOnABus only to make one last appearance in the final season. Despite being the most different from Betty and [[ReallyGetsAround kind of a dog]], he's also pretty much the only one of Betty's boyfriends who is a consistently positive influence in her life, he's insanely devoted to her, always looking out for her physical and emotional well-being, readily forgives her whenever she's rude to him (Which is often) and constantly pushes her to abandon fashion and pursue her true dreams.
* Jesse (Creator/ValEmmich, early season three) - You know that sensitive, self-absorbed musician you dated in college? THIS GUY. Fortunately, this didn't get very far.
* Matt (Creator/DanielEricGold, late season three to mid season four) - A LonelyRichKid with a CorruptCorporateExecutive for a father and a RichBitch for a mother. His main character trait was never finishing what he started and constantly changing his life's ambition. He and Betty were getting really serious when Henry inexplicably dropped in for an episode and gave Betty another farewell kiss right when Matt happened to inexplicably be watching from afar. He promptly became her {{Jerkass}} boss and attempted to make her life a living hell, before getting back together with her for a few episodes and then deciding to move to Africa. Detty shippers noted the similarities to Daniel and dubbed him "Daniel-lite".
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Daniel's Girl Of The Season]]

!Daniel's Girl of the Season

Despite being a rich playboy, [[LadyKillerInLove Daniel will fall in love like no one has ever loved before]] only to have his heart completely mutilated when he finds out her deep, dark secret.
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* Sofia (Creator/SalmaHayek, season one) - Strong, sexy, career woman who won Daniel's heart by rejecting him. She was the first woman he ever truly loved and he proposed to her after only two months. Turned out to be a publicity stunt for her new article, "Fling to Ring in 60 Days", which she revealed to him on live TV.
* Renee (Creator/GabrielleUnion, season two) - Wilhelmina's sister, who found out her evil plans and thus had to be taken out. As she suffered from mental illness, Wilhelmina had Marc mess with her medication, thus making her go crazy with jealousy, attempt to kill Betty, and light Daniel's apartment on fire. In the end she was committed to an asylum, which for some reason meant Daniel could never see her again. She and this storyline were never mentioned again.
* Molly (Creator/SaraLafleur, season three) - Elementary school teacher and the first "normal" girl Daniel was attracted to, who was considered "Betty-lite" by the Detty shippers. Drama came from her being the fiance of his friend and CFO, Connor. After some endless pining and angst, she broke up with Connor, got together with Daniel, and died of cancer.
* Natalie (Creator/JamieLynnSigler, season four) - ManicPixieDreamGirl helping Daniel [[RomancingTheWidow get over Molly's death]]. The support group she brings him into turns out to be an evil cult.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Mostly Bad Boys Of Hilda]]

!The Mostly Bad Boys of Hilda'

Hilda [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys likes dating bad boys]], often with disastrous results. Ignacio is so displeased by this.
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* Santos Reynoso (Creator/KevinAlejandro, season one) - Knocked Hilda up in HighSchool, resulting in Justin. Starts to make amends in the first season, [[spoiler:but dies]].
* Coach Tony Diaz (Creator/EddieCibrian, late season two to early season three) - Justin's gym teacher. Hilda continues to date him after finding out he's married, but don't worry, he's leaving his wife. Really, honestly!
* Archie Rodriguez (Creator/RalphMacchio, season three to season four) - A city councilman and the lone respectable guy in Hilda's dating history. Yes, the most respectable guy she's dated is a ''politician''.
* Bobby Talercio (Creator/AdamRodriguez, season four) - An old flame who got Hilda pregnant while she was supposed to be dating Archie. It later turned out the pregnancy failed, but nevertheless Hilda ended up marrying Bobby in the GrandFinale. Well, actually the second-to-last episode, but close enough.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Other Characters' Love Interests]]

!Other Characters' Love Interests
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* Cliff St. Paul (Creator/DavidBlue) - A StraightGay boyfriend of Marc, who encourages him to PetTheDog. Left Marc when he [[ActorAllusion changed his name to Eli Wallace]] and [[Series/StargateUniverse moved to another galaxy]].
* [[MeaningfulName Connor Owens]][[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke he "conned" Meade and thus "owes" them]][[/note]] (Creator/GrantBowler) - [[HappilyMarried Happily Engaged]] to Molly (see above) when he first appeared, but the show's soapy antics fixed that soon enough. When Daniel went for Molly, Wilhelmina went for Connor. Later he robbed the company and went on the run, causing Wilhelmina to angst about whether to join him or to try to save the company. Ultimately ends up in prison.
* Austin (Creator/RyanMcGinnis) - Supposedly in a LoveTriangle with Justin over a girl named Lily, but, of course, it turned out [[HoYay they were actually gay for each other the whole time]].
[[/folder]]
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