takes her job seriously, and she knows the role of Gabi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives is one that means a lot to the long-running soap’s fan base.
portrayed Gabi from 2009 to 2010 before took over the character for over a decade. When she left the role in 2023, Jimenez, 37, stepped in. And while she says her producers have praised her work, the reviews from fans haven’t been as kind.
“I cried a bunch in the beginning,” Jimenez said in an interview with Woman’s World published Monday, October 28. “The fan base was basically bullying me. People miss Camila, and even though I tried to bring elements of her to the role, I’m not Camila.”
Jimenez still looks at Banus with reverence. In a story with Soaps.com that ran on Wednesday, October 30, she spoke about balancing her interpretation of the character with staying true to who Gabi is.
“I understand that it’s not gonna be easy, but I really hope that people fall in love with my interpretation of Gabi, and just know that I’m doing my absolute best and I’m giving it my all,” she said.
“Camila played this role for 13 years,” she added. “This is her baby. She brought a lot of who she is into this character. The biggest thing is that I want to do justice and remain in the same realm of who Gabi Hernandez is, but also, I am my own person. And so at the end of the day, I’m going to bring to it parts of who I am as well.”
She hopes that in time, fans can see that. For now, it’s not the online comments that upset her as much as it is the people who contact her directly, saying, “It really hurt.”
“Bullying is not OK, in any form,” she told Woman’s World. “And I choose to change the narrative and what I acknowledge. My life is very full. I’m blessed. I’m so thankful.”
The fan feedback hasn’t all been negative, though. She said the split is about even, and having new fans has given her a focus.
“My producers and bosses let me know that I have exceeded their expectations, and now, I have some fans,” she noted. “I’d say it’s 50/50, so I’m focusing on the viewers that are giving me a chance and showing me love.”
