Anitta revived and reinvented Brazilian pop music with hit songs canonized as anthems, culture-shifting music videos, and a tenacious pursuit of authenticity. As conservatives questioned and discriminated against the out bisexual, mixed-race woman of Candomblé faith, Anitta outsmarted them, sharing her resilient spirit with the world.
“My biggest obstacle has been coming from the favelas, being a bisexual woman in a country with persistent misogyny and discrimination,” Anitta says. “My work is about self-expression and empowerment; being open and vulnerable about my sexuality and my roots. When critics ask why I need to sing about female freedom, my sensuality, and my culture, it’s not because I need to…it’s because I can.”
She’s the first-ever solo Latine artist to top Spotify’s Global Top 200 chart. She’s got three consecutive VMAs in the Best Latin category to her name. And her new album, Funk Generation, will introduce Brazilian funk sounds and culture to global fans.
Brazil plunges into summer come late December, and Anitta is readying her new tour for Brazilian Carnival — “always my favorite time of the year,” she teases. @anitta
