Nicole and Michael Zavala on ‘Cartel Crew’ (2024)

Nicole and Michael Zavala on ‘Cartel Crew’ (1)

YouTube/VH1

New reality series Cartel Crew will take a deep dive into the lives of eight children descended from the cartel life as they grow up and explore the effects of their legacy. Set against a backdrop of Miami, Fla., the cast aims to make a name for themselves outside of the drug scene, but find that escaping the shadows of the past is easier said than done. The 10-episode series starts Monday, January 7 at 9/8c.

Although the show will be led by Michael Blanco, the youngest son of the “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco who left the drug life after 33 years following his mother’s assassination, Nicole and Michael Zavala will likely snag lots of screentime. Here’s what you need to know about the Zavala twins.

Other Members of the Crew Question Twins Nicole and Michael’s Connection to the Cartel

View this post on Instagram

The face you make of excitement ! Who’s ready ?! @vh1 !! @cartelcrew Airs OUT TONIGHT at 9PM !!! Hope you all set ya DVR’s stay tuned! Get to know the real Nicole Zavala! There’s so much about me that people don’t know. Most think Im just this girl with a pretty face and a nice body. I have feelings too, I have a story too, and I can’t wait to share this intimate/personal part of my life with the world. ❤️?? Stay tune coming VERY VERY SOON ? the most craziest sh*t you will ever scene in your TV SCREENS! Only on VH1 ! #KeepUpWithNicoleZavala #CartelCrew

A post shared by Keep Up With Nicole Zavala (@realnicolezavala) on Jan 7, 2019 at 9:15am PST

Nicole and Michael Zavala were lucky enough to never lose a loved one to prison or murder. In fact, the twins have only heard rumors of their families’ involvement in cartel business. Knowing this, other members of the crew question whether or not the brother-sister duo even have a real tie to the cartel lifestyle. But make no mistake, the Zavala twins grew up enjoying all the lush benefits of being surrounded by cartel riches.

Many of the show’s other cast members don’t believe the twins’ authenticity, especially those who’ve suffered devasting losses that stem directly from the cartel ways. Both Kat “Tatu Baby” Flores and Blanco have both had parents killed because of their cartel connections. Having dealt with many hardships, it may take this cartel crew a while before they accept the privileged Zavalas as some of their own.

Michael Zavala Has His Own Interior Design Company

In addition to his legacy and role in the VH1 series, Zavala is also an interior designer who founded his own company, Zavala Concepts, in 2015. According to his site, Zavala has worked in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, government, corporate, hospitality, educational, and residential. He’s been involved in all aspects of the design and construction process, from programming to construction administration.

His side hustle continues in music and film. The designer has a hand in an upcoming short film called Love Abduction and the first song to its soundtrack, “Stay True.”

Nicole, on the other hand, calls herself an entrepreneur and business owner of the Nicole Zavala Collection, and has been promoting the show across her social media accounts.

The Show’s Trailer Recounts the Crew’s Tragedies and the ‘Temptations Everywhere’ That Try to Pull Them Back In

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been affiliated with that lifestyle, but the demons just don’t disappear,” said crew member Carlos “Loz” Oliveros in the show’s trailer.

Nicole Zavala, on the other hand, doesn’t hide her ignorance of her family’s affiliations.

“I know my dad was some type of cartel figure, but that’s none of my business so I don’t ask no questions,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t really go through a struggle.”

READ NEXT: Michael Corleone Blanco of ‘Cartel Crew’: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Now Take the Quiz

var VUUKLE_CONFIG = {apiKey: "6ff6a1d2-d34b-462f-bf11-c86cae0e6821",};// DON'T EDIT BELOW THIS LINE(function() {var d = document,s = d.createElement('script');s.src = 'https://cdn.vuukle.com/platform.js';(d.head || d.body).appendChild(s);})();

More Entertainment News

Loading more stories

More Entertainment News ↓

Nicole and Michael Zavala on ‘Cartel Crew’ (2024)

FAQs

Is Cartel Crew a real show? ›

Cartel Crew is an American reality television series that premiered on VH1 on January 7, 2019. It chronicles the daily lives of people whose families have had previous connections to cartels in Miami, Florida.

What happened to Michael Zavala? ›

Zavala was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentence included 14 years for attempted murder, a middle term doubled because of the strike; one year for using a deadly or dangerous weapon, and five years for the prior serious felony conviction.

How many seasons is cartel crew? ›

Where does cartel crew take place? ›

A look into the lives of descendants of the Cartel life living in Miami as they navigate adulthood and the effects the legacy has had on their upbringing.

Are Michael and Marie Blanco still married? ›

Is Michael Corleone Blanco Married? Michael wed Marie Ramirez De Arellano in 2021, and the couple share a daughter, Faith.

Is The Cartel movie based on a true story? ›

Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization shows Griselda Blanco's journey from Medellín to becoming "the Godmother" of Miami's drug empire.

Why is End of Watch so sad? ›

SPOILERS Violence: Officer Zavala dies at the end of the movie, this scene is very sad and intense. Two police officers go into a fire to save three kids stuck inside of it, and one of the officers nearly suffocates, it's very intense.

What happened at the end of End of Watch? ›

Backup eventually arrives and the gangsters are also killed after refusing to surrender. At the police funeral, it is revealed Taylor survived, because Zavala's body had shielded him from the gangsters' gunfire. He tries to deliver a eulogy, but only manages a few words: "He was my brother".

Who played Big Evil in End of Watch? ›

Big Evil is the main antagonist of the 2012 film End of Watch. He was played by Maurice Compte.

Who shot Gigi on Cartel Crew? ›

McGowan was 17 at the time, but charged as an adult with manslaughter with a deadly weapon. Four witnesses at the party told police the shooting was accidental. McGowan, who was charged with manslaughter, admitted he accidentally shot his friend.

Is Cartel Crew still on TV? ›

Right now you can watch Cartel Crew on VH1 or Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel .

Who is Eddie from Cartel Crew? ›

Eddie Soto(II)

Eddie Soto is known for Secret Society 3: 'Til Death (2023), Secret Society 2: Never Enough (2022) and Cartel Crew (2019).

What happened on season 3 of Cartel Crew? ›

La Familia Over Everything. Salome grieves the loss of her sister who was shot and killed; Dayana fights to protect her family from the same fate as Salome's sister; Kat struggles to move forward from her breakup; Michael and Marie take the first steps.

Who is Michael Blanco's mother? ›

Early life. Griselda Blanco Restrepo was born in Cartagena, Colombia, on the country's north coast.

Is Michael Corleone Blanco still alive? ›

He's the only son of the Black Widow left alive. At the time of his 2020 interview with The Mirror, Michael lived in Miami with his three children. And yes, if his name sounds familiar, that's because he gets it from the central character in The Godfather series.

Is Griselda Blanco son suing on Netflix? ›

Griselda: The Blanco Estate Settled Its Lawsuit Against Netflix and Sofía Vergara. Griselda Blanco's only living son, Michael, sued the streamer and Vergara for their work on Griselda.

Is Salamanca cartel real? ›

This article is about the fictional cartel in the Breaking Bad universe. For the real organization which inspired the cartel, see wikipedia:Juárez Cartel. The Cartel, also known as the Juárez Cartel, was a Mexican drug cartel active in Ciudad Juárez, Michoacán, Chihuahua, and Jalisco.

How many kids are alive from Griselda Blanco? ›

In a 2008 feature about Blanco and her career, the Miami News Times confirmed that her eldest sons—Dixon, Uber, and Osvaldo—are all dead. According to the story, "Blanco's three other sons were all murdered, purportedly in retribution for carnage she herself caused." Now, Blanco's only surviving child is Michael.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5919

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.