Gloria Mendoza

Gloria is a devout Catholic, she knows alot about Christian Mexican rituals, she often burns candles in the name of certain saints to bless or curse people, this is not real magic but it often causes things to go in Gloria's favor.

Before prison Gloria was a devoted mother in a toxic, abusive relationship with her boyfriend. While in prison her maternal role becomes focused on her prison daughters. The abuse she suffered from her boyfriend appears to have hardened her. That, in conjunction with her prison stay, makes her exude toughness.

Gloria’s protective, loving nature makes up the crux of her character. Her toughness comes out most when she is helping others which is in contrast to her behavior in her own life. She often seems beaten down, helpless, and unsure when her own (actual) family is involved.

Gloria is often seen helping people outside her prison family. She gives sarcastic advice and jokes around with people even if she don't know them well.

Respectful, methodical and intelligent, Gloria seems to use her motherly instincts to think of the long term. She still seems unsure how to be a parent to her children.

As if to highlight her keen intelligence, on more than one occasion Gloria has revealed information she knows that other prisoners thought was a secret.

Gloria is aware of all of the characters and events in Orange is the New Black as she was present

She has short, sleek dark hair. She also has a tattoo on the left side of her neck. She is usually seen wearing silver hoop earrings. During the first few seasons Gloria's hair was cropped, but into the later seasons she let it down and grew it out. She is Latina and 43 years old, is quite curvy and is 5 foot 8 inches

Aleida Diaz (best friend) - Gloria and Aleida are always presented to be very close. After Daya starts treating Gloria as a mother rather than Aleida, Aleida is initially upset by this, but the two grow and agree to love Daya together. Gloria is the inmate Aleida trusts the most, during Aleida's leave, she tells Gloria to watch over Daya.
Sophia Burset (close friend) - After a rough beginning, Gloria realises her wrongdoing and resolves her relationship with Sophia, the two become close friends. Gloria is shown to be panicked and begs to find out when Sophia is going to be released from the SHU.
Dayanara Diaz (daughter figure) - When Aleida chooses to ignore her daughter, Dayanara turns to Gloria who accepts Daya. Daya trusts Gloria with her personal life at prison much more than Aleida. However, after Aleida's release, Gloria is unable to stop Daya from falling in with gangs, and eventually drug addiction. By Season Seven, Gloria has severed her connection to Daya, partly due from her being powerless to help Daya.
Marisol Gonzales (friend) - Gloria is shown to be good friends with Marisol as part of Spanish Harlem.
Maritza Ramos (friend) - Gloria is shown to be good friends with Maritza as part of Spanish Harlem.
Blanca Flores (close friend) - Gloria and Blanca are shown being friends and talking in the kitchen. Their friendship evolve after the riot, and the two are shown to be close while living in C-Block together in season 6. In season 7, when Blanca is detained by ICE, Gloria tries to help her from the ICE-kitchen.
Maria Ruiz (civil) - Gloria worked with her in the kitchen. After season 5, they are no longer friends due to Maria taking Gloria's opportunity to go see her son in hospital. In season 6, Gloria rats out Maria who gets ten years. In Season Seven, they seemingly are civil after Maria tries to talk to her
Alex Vause (friend) - In season five, Gloria and Alex become friends when they are invited into Frieda's bunker.