The Bold and the Beautiful Character Recap: Zende Forrester Dominguez

They say that family is what you make it, and no one embodies that idea more than The Bold and the Beautiful’s Zende Forrester Dominguez.

Who Is Zende Forrester Dominguez?

It was desperation that led 10-year-old African native Zende to steal a camera belonging to honeymooners Kristen Forrester and Tony Dominguez – and it was a guilty conscience that forced him to return it.

Impressed with the young man’s honesty, Kristen and Tony agreed to pay him a visit prior to their return to Los Angeles. However, they were disheartened to learn that not only did Zende reside in an orphanage, but he had also lost his immediate family due to the AIDS epidemic. Though they returned to Los Angeles, Kristen and Tony found it impossible to forget Zende.

Expanding the Family
When they each realized that the other had penned a note intended for the young boy, Kristen and Tony began discussing the possibility of adding Zende to their family.

The young man’s plight especially spoke to Tony, who had only recently been diagnosed as HIV positive. After concluding that adopting Zende offered them the safest option of having a child of their own, Kristen and Tony returned to Africa and initiated adoption proceedings.

Soon after, Zende was supporting both his parents’ surnames and living in L.A. where he made the acquaintance of his new, extended family. The Forrester-Dominguez trio eventually decamped to Miami.

Los Angeles Revisited

Years later, Zende returned to L.A. and made his way into Forrester Creations through their intern program. He delighted in reuniting with Eric and Ridge and he soon caught the eye of fellow intern Nicole Avant.

However, he didn’t make a move until Nicole reported that his cousin, Thomas, had kissed her. Zende, in turn, did the same and soon he and Nicole were a bonafide item. But just when it seemed that their courtship might develop into something far deeper, Nicole agreed to act as a surrogate mother to her sister Maya – a decision of which Zende didn’t approve.

They briefly separated, and Zende succumbed to the charms of the oh-so-persistent Sasha Thompson – a model whom budding shutterbug  Zende had been charged with photographing.

But it was Nicole who still had his heart. The young lovebirds attempted to reunite, but their efforts were stymied by Sasha, who claimed to be pregnant with Zende’s baby. Further complications arose thanks to Zende’s continued interaction with Sasha (on a strictly professional, photographer/model basis) and Nicole’s seeming interest in Thomas.

And when Nicole gave serious consideration to bearing Maya and Rick another child, Zende walked out on her – and straight into Sasha’s arms. His act of betrayal nearly cost him Nicole, but Zende persisted in a crusade to prove himself and win her back.

Zende Finds Love
And he finally succeeded with the aid of a horse-drawn carriage and a diamond engagement ring. Their subsequent wedding ceremony was a lavish affair held at the Forrester estate.

But trouble still abounded. Zende turned his hand to dress designing and struggled to be taken seriously while Nicole learned that she might not be able to bear another child – and then debated the merits of seeking to regain custody of the baby she had handed over to her sister and brother-in-law.

When the opportunity to transfer to the design house’s Parisian branch arose, the young marrieds enthusiastically accepted it… remaining completely oblivious to the fact that Maya had arranged the fortuitous option. The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.