Days of our lives star Cherie Jimenez on Talk about it with Franjez episode 127 | Gabi Hernandez

Franjez sits down with the incredible Cherie Jimenez, the talented actress best known for her role as Gabi Hernandez on the long running, Emmy winning soap opera, Days of Our Lives. In this exclusive and candid interview, Cherie opens up about her unique journey from a young New York City girl to a staple on daytime television. She shares what it was like growing up in Manhattan, moving between boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Lower East Side, Washington Heights) with her young, single mother and Abuela. Learn how her mother’s incredible strength and love shielded her from the struggles of their nomadic lifestyle. Cherie details how her modeling career began at age 9, including booking campaigns for Barbie's 50th Anniversary (as Teresa Barbie) and a memorable anti smoking commercial for Philip Morris. She recounts facing body shaming in the industry as a child and how her mother's support helped her persevere. She also reveals how being bullied for modeling led her to attend the prestigious Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS). The conversation turns to her pivotal decision to choose acting over a ballet scholarship, her early work with a supportive casting director on major film auditions (Long Kiss Goodnight, Riding in Cars with Boys) , and the moment at the Sundance Filmmakers Lab where she realized acting was her true calling. Finally, Cherie shares the intense process of landing the role of Gabby Hernandez, navigating the scrutiny of being a "recast" in the soap opera world, and how she's now helping to change the narrative and expand the first Latin family on daytime television. Timestamps: (00:45) Growing up in NYC and a nomadic childhood (05:15) Her mother shielding her from their financial struggles (08:30) Starting acting and modeling at age 9 (14:30) Working on the Barbie 50th Anniversary campaign (17:00) Her first big audition and the casting director who mentored her (24:00) Dealing with rejection and body shaming (27:00) Attending the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) (30:00) Booking the Sundance Filmmakers Lab and solidifying her passion (35:00) Landing the role of Gabi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives (38:00) Being a "recast" and the intense reaction from soap opera fans (41:00) Changing the narrative for Latina roles and expanding the Hernandez family #CherieJimenez #DaysOfOurLives #GabiHernandez #DOOL #SoapOpera #LatinaActress