Inspired by Mindy Kaling’s childhood depicting the complicated life of first-generation Indian American teenager, Devi Vishwakumar, the new coming-of-age comedy, _Never Have I Ever,_ shows Devi trying to balance the dualities of her identity. An overachieving high school sophomore, she learns what happens when she flies too close to the sun and picks popularity and boys over her friends and culture. Flaunt caught up with Lee Rodriguez, who plays Fabiola Torres, on mentorship, relating to their characters, and the importance of coming-of-age stories.
**How was your high school experience compared to Fabiola’s?**
I felt for the most part, Fabiola is comfortable in all the things that she does, until she starts to question her sexual orientation.
**What have each of you learned from your characters?**
What I learned from Fabiola was how to make a robot. I made a very Walmart version of a robot.
**What has your own coming of stories taught you?**
I feel like the biggest thing for me is mental health. Mental health is just as important as breaking a bone. It is okay to get help in that way and have it not be something you have to hide or be ashamed of. That’s why I love this show, because it touches on that. It is a very big part of my coming of age.
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Photographed by Ian Morrison | [@imorrison](https://www.instagram.com/imorrison/?hl=en)
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