Latinas are unique, and their fire is unquenchable. Every year during International Women’s Day, we honor revolutionary women with a worldwide known legacy. However, there’s another group of females in the path to becoming exemplary shining beacons for those coming behind them.
Whether they leave their marks in the entertainment industry, medicine, STEM, or other career paths, Latinas have shown that their contributions aren’t invisible despite the lack of representation; they also deserve to be highlighted, documented, and celebrated.
We will always thank Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Ivy Queen, Selena Quintanilla, Thalía, Paulina Rubio, Olga Tañón, Lila Downs, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and the hundreds of female singers and entertainers that introduced the Latinx cultura, our Spanish language, strength, and individual flair to the world.
Thank you for making the world a better place with your music and for inspiring and clearing the path to the generation of artists we can enjoy today, and we believe they will continue passing down the torch.
To put a face and a name to those inspirational stars, HOLA! USA decided to make a list of eight Latinas on the path to becoming music legends.
Karol G
Carolina Giraldo Navarro, known professionally as Karol G, is one of the most prominent women in the reggaeton scene. The Latin Grammy Award winner, born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, began her career as a teenager on the Colombian spinoff of The X Factor.
After moving to New York City and signing a life-changing record deal with Universal Music Latino, Karol’s breakthrough hit, “Ahora Me Llama,” featuring Bad Bunny, positioned her as the best new artist. After several collabs, including “China,” which became her first music video with over one billion views on YouTube, and her song “Tusa” with Nicki Minaj, which charted internationally and was certified 28× Latin Platinum by the RIAA, Karol G received four nominations at the Latin Grammys, catapulting her music career to unimaginable places.
Today the Colombian singer is known as a Rule Breaker by Billboard for using her music and platform to defy expectations, significant contributions, and continued success.
Mon Laferte
Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte, known professionally as Mon Laferte, is a Chilean singer, songwriter, and musician with an impressive musical versatility covering pop, rock, bolero, cumbia, and salsa.
Her stage persona, talent, and unbelievable captivating music helped her become the Chilean artist with the most listeners on Spotify worldwide and the Chilean singer with the most nominations in a single edition of the Latin Grammy Awards.
Today, Mon Laferte is the best-selling Chilean artist in the digital era, thanks to her hit songs “Tormento,” “Amor completo,” “Si tú me quisieras,” “Tu falta de querer,” and more.
Nathy Peluso
Natalia Beatriz Dora Peluso, known professionally as Nathy Peluso, is an Argentine singer raised in Spain, recognized for her 2020 breakthrough album Calambre. She won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
Peluso, also known for her theatrical personality and for fusing hip hop, soul, and world music, started reaching more places after collaborating with Bizarrap, Christina Aguilera, Karol G, and more. The Latin Grammy Awards recognized her as the Best New Artist.
Ángela Aguilar
Ángela Aguilar Álvarez Alcalá is an 18-years-old Mexican-American singer, known for being the daughter of Pepe Aguilar, and her stunning musical performance of “La Llorona” at the 19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2018.
The same year Ángela released her debut solo studio album, Primero Soy Mexicana, becoming one of the top artists to watch. The rising star met with critical acclaim and success and received a nomination for a Grammy Award and two Latin Grammy Awards, becoming one of the youngest artists to be recognized in both events.
Renata Flores
Renata Flores Rivera is a Peruvian singer known for her viral Quechua cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.” After her success, she released original trap songs in her ancestral language. Her tunes often talk about the issues indigenous communities in Peru face. Flores released her first album, Isqun, in 2021.
Camila Cabello
Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao was born in Cuba and raised in the United States. The singer and actress rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, and later she established herself as a solo artist.
After officially leaving the group in late 2016, Cabello’s career skyrocketed. She released several collaborations, including “Hey Ma” and “Crying in the Club” before launching her debut studio album, Camila, in 2018, peaking at number one on the US Billboard 200.
The album earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the lead single “Havana” topped charts in several countries. The song also became the best-selling digital single of 2018, and in 2021, she became the first Hispanic woman to receive a Diamond certification by the RIAA.
Following her success with “Havana,” Cabello’s 2019 duet with Shawn Mendes, “Señorita” became her second single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, Romance, peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart.
Anitta
Larissa de Macedo Machado, better known by her stage name Anitta, is a Brazilian powerhouse singer and songwriter that became a success in her native country after releasing her song “Show das poderosas.” In 2013 she released her debut studio album, which received a triple gold record certificate and platinum certification by ABPD.
The following year she performed at the Latin Grammy Award and is a five-time winner of the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Brazilian Act on the MTV Europe Music Awards. Anitta is also the first Brazilian artist to win the Best Latin American Act award.
Kali Uchis
Karly-Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, released her debut mixtape, Drunken Babble, in 2012, but after releasing her debut studio album Isolation, she received widespread acclaim.
Her second studio album is her first Spanish language project, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), which crowned her as a rising star. Her single “Telepatía” became Uchis‘ first solo charting hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. Kali won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for her feature on Kaytranada’s single “10%.”
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