Zende Forrester Dominguez

Zende Forrester Dominguez is a character on the The Bold and the Beautiful, portrayed by Delon De Metz since 2020. Zende was previously portrayed by Rome Flynn from 2015-2017. Daniel Smith played the character from 2001-2002 and made a guest appearance in 2005.

Character history
While honeymooning in Africa, newly-married Kristen Forrester (Tracy Melchior) and Antonio "Tony" Dominguez (Paulo Benedeti) noticed that they had lost a roll of film. A mysterious boy showed up with the film to return it. As they began to talk to him they formed a bond with him. The boy, named Zende, invited them to visit him before they left the country. Kristen and Antonio were shocked to discover that Zende had been orphaned when both parents died of AIDS. Zende had lived at an orphanage with his younger brother, but sadly, his brother also died of the disease. To help pay his way, Zende worked around the orphanage and helped take care of the younger children. Kristen and Tony discovered when Zende became too old to live in the orphanage he would probably end up on the streets or working anywhere he could find work.

On their return to Los Angeles, Kristen and Tony admitted that Zende had never left their thoughts. They had both been drafting letters to send him. Since Antonio had been battling HIV himself, he felt a special connection to Zende; the couple saw this as the first chance to have a family of their own. They decided to rush back to Africa and start adoption proceedings immediately. They legally adopted young Zende, choosing to give him both of their surnames. Zende went to live with Kristen and Tony, who have since left Los Angeles (with Zende) and are currently living in Florida.

Return To Los Angeles
In 2015, an adult Zende returned to L.A. and wanted to start at the bottom at his family's design house, Forrester Creations, despite his connections. Zende met fellow intern Nicole Avant but didn't act on his attraction to her until she kissed his half-cousin, Thomas Forrester. Just as Zende and Nicole began exploring a relationship, Nicole decided to become a surrogate for her transgender sister, Maya Avant; Zende worried that Nicole's pregnancy would come between them. His doubts reinforced by Nicole's intolerant father, Julius Avant, Zende broke up with a pregnant Nicole and succumbed to the persistent advances of Nicole's childhood friend Sasha Thompson, a budding model Zende was tasked with photographing.

But Zende couldn't return Sasha's feelings and snuck into Nicole's hospital room dressed as an orderly to witness the birth of the baby. Moved, Zende planned to reunite with Nicole until Sasha announced she herself was pregnant. Dubious about the timing, Zende reconciled with Nicole before admitting he might be Sasha's babydaddy. When it came out that Sasha faked her pregnancy test, Zende forgave Sasha, then got an assignment to snap Sasha modeling lingerie, which upset Nicole. But Zende and Nicole soon moved past it and made love for the first time. Later, Zende attended baby Lizzy Forrester's christening and seemed concerned when Sasha started getting cozy with Thomas. Zende stood with his family in boycotting grandfather Eric Forrester's wedding to Quinn Fuller, a woman with a criminal past, but felt guilty afterwards, especially when an enraged Eric collapsed from a brain hemorrhage.

When it seemed that Nicole had agreed to become a surrogate for Rick Forrester and Maya a second time, Zende got drunk at a party and whisked Sasha away to Hawaii. On the way home, believing he and Nicole were over, Zende kissed Sasha, then made love to her on the Forrester jet, where Nicole caught them together. Informed that Nicole had changed her mind about the surrogacy at the last minute, Zende apologized profusely and repeatedly proposed marriage to Nicole, crushed when Nicole wanted nothing more to do with him. Zende had no answers for Sasha when she asked what that meant for them. Zende continued trying to win Nicole over, and finally did with an extravagant horse-and-carriage proposal; after Nicole said yes, Zende married her in a lavish ceremony at the Forrester mansion.

Zende became suspicious of new intern Coco Spectra, whose great-aunt, Sally Spectra, had been famous for stealing Forrester designs for their own fashion house, Spectra Fashions; despite assurances from his teen cousin, R.J. Forrester, Zende decided to keep an eye on Coco, knowing R.J. couldn't be objective because of his crush on her. Zende felt he was right when Coco inadvertently helped her sister, namesake designer Sally Spectra, poach Forrester designs by unknowingly wearing jewelry rigged with cameras, but Zende changed his tune about Coco after she was willing to testify against Sally regarding the theft. Zende decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his adoptive parents and taught himself design, hoping to help Forrester replace its stolen collection. But Zende felt snubbed when Steffy Forrester and her father, Ridge Forrester, admitted they didn't have time to train him. Zende got his chance when Ridge fired his son, Thomas, for coming to the aid of his girlfriend, Sally, and investing $100,000 in Spectra to save it from the wrecking ball; novice Zende was tasked with replacing the experienced Thomas.

Zende wanted a family with Nicole and got a taste when they were asked to sit for baby Lizzy while Rick and Maya were out of town. But Zende refused to believe it when Nicole announced she had been told by doctors that uterine scarring caused by giving birth to Lizzy may have rendered her unable to have any more children. Zende was thunderstruck when there was a glitch in Lizzy's adoption papers and Nicole considered raising Lizzy herself; Zende went up against Julius, who was encouraging Nicole to claim Lizzy, then helped talk Nicole into signing the corrected papers. Zende was tasked with designing swimwear for an upcoming Forrester fashion duel with Spectra Fashions in Monte Carlo, even taking a turn on the runway. Disappointed when Nicole begged off celebrating his success with a night out, Zende hit a club with Maya and ended up having to defend her from a bigot who was harassing her. Zende honored Maya's decision not to tell Rick or Nicole about the incident.

Divorcing Nicole, Meeting Zoe and Paris
In 2020 Zende returns home from Paris. He catches up with Carter and reveals to his friend that Nicole and him are splitting up, and that he is moving back to LA for good. While talking to Carter Zende keeps his story about the split from brief and wishes Nicole the best. After his return to L.A Zende meets Zoe Buckingham, who is the lead model of Forrester Creation. Zende is intrigued with Zoe. Zoe and Zende talk and Zende is aware of what Zoe did to Hope and Steffy, by keeping her father's secret about kidnapping Hope's daughter Beth and sold her Steffy raise a child that was stolen because of a gambling debt. However Zende understands why Zoe kept that secret, and starts to have a connection with her. However Zoe is seeing Carter, but has feelings for Zende. Zende sends a text to Zoe asking her to not get in too deep with Carter and hints he is interested. The message fails to arrive to her and she gets engaged with Carter. When Zende hears about the engagement he decides to respect Carter and does not peruse Zoe anymore even though they both have feelings for each other. When Paris, Zoe's sister is in L.A he meets her for the first time. Zende is drawn to Paris and admires her passion. Zende and Paris starts to see each other but Zoe still has feelings for Zende and tries to get Paris to leave L.A. However Zende convinces Paris to stay. Zoe suddenly found out about the old message that Zende has sent to her in the past and decides to sabotage Paris's and Zende's relationship and wants to kiss him. Zende has enough of Zoe perusing him, and tells her on many occasions that he does not want to be with her and wants to respect Carter. Carter learns what Zoe tried to do and he breaks up with Zoe. Months later, Zende wanted to slow things down with Paris so they could focus on their careers, but he soon asked Paris to move in with him. When Paris instead bunked with Steffy and her new husband, John "Finn" Finnegan, Zende became amused by the obvious crush Paris had on Finn. But after Paris decided to share an apartment with Thomas, whose house sale had fallen through, Zende was far less amused. Soon Thomas wanted to make a play on Paris, but she remained faithful to Zende. Zende didn't find out about Thomas going behind his back.

Soon after Zende asked Quinn Forrester to design an engagement ring for Paris. While him and Paris were on a date Quinn told Carter Walton that Zende is going to propose. Carter sent Paris a text saying that Zende wants to propose. Paris read it and got scared of it so she started telling Zende how she wants to keep things casual between them. He became discouraged and decided to not propose. He went to talk to Carter about it not knowing that he was the one that revealed his secret to Paris. Zende was truly sad and started wondering if there is another man in Paris's live not knowing that it's Carter who Paris is secretly crushing on and kissing behind his back. Paris told Zende that he can date also other women so Zende goes on a date with a Forrester model even if he assured Paris that he see's her as his future wife even if it will be in 10 years.

Misdeeds

 * Stole Kristen and Antonio Dominguez's camera in Africa (2001)
 * Hid the fact that Sasha Thompson might be carrying his baby from his girlfriend Nicole Avant (2016)
 * Secretly send a text to his friends girlfriend Zoe Buckingham asking her to slow things down with her boyfriend and meet up with him, but the text arrived to Zoe after she and Carter Walton got engaged. Once Zoe and Carter were engaged Zende refused to come between the pair (2021)