On the new episode of Billboard’s 12 Hours With… presented by Facebook Watch, Anitta takes us to the very beginning of her career, behind the scenes of her performance at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Week, and talks about taking Brazilian Funk to mainstream music.
“I think being a Latina and plus being Brazilian made me creative, made me strong, powerful,” the singer expressed in the 13-minute video.
A former business major, Anitta decided to pursue a career in music at the age of 17, singing at various favelas. In 2013, her debut album went certified triple gold and platinum in Brazil, putting her signature Brazilian Funk music on the map. “I wanted to go international to prove that our Brazilian thing is so amazing,” she said.
For Anitta, representation is key. Not only does she vouch for her culture through her music but also for women and the LGBTQ+ community. She also opened up about her insecurities growing up, her plastic surgeries, and keeping grounded thanks to her mom.
The episode wraps up with behind-the-scenes and part of her performance at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Week.
“Here in America, I’m just starting,” she noted. “For me it’s amazing, I want to show more of my Brazilian culture, not only funk. No matter where I go, I’m still the girl from Rio, always.”
The four-part series, which premiered with 12 Hours with Maluma, will dig deep into the four artists’ stories about how their heritage and roots helped build a foundation for their music careers and how they’re shaping culture and building on generations of Latin influence across the globe.
Up next is 12 Hours With Prince Royce, which will air Oct. 14, and Mariah Angeliq’s special that will round out the series on Oct. 15 at 9 am ET.
Billboard’s 12 Hours With… Facebook Watch series was executive produced by Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of The Intellectual Property Corporation, an Industrial Media Company, with showrunner and executive producer Rachelle Mendez. Learn more about Facebook’s Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations here.