It is no secret that Latinas are slaying in arenas that were previously out of their reach because of freaking discrimination on racial and gender terms. One of those areas is hip-hop music, which has been mainly dominated by men who, let’s be honest, are often sexist and a bit vulgar. That is why Becky G stands out as a pioneer: she has opened the way for Hispanic female talent to influence urban cultures through music.

These are some facts you just gotta know about the author of “Sin Pijama” and “Mayores!”

1. Her full name is Rebbeca Marie Gomez

Quite a mouthful and totally telenovela-character material. And she was born on March 2, 1997, in Inglewood, California. A true Latina Cali princess.

2. She began her career as a vlogger and published covers

She is a true representative of the YouTube generation. She would sing her heart out covering hits and posting the videos online. The famous producer Dr. Luke saw the videos. The rest, as they say, es historia. She mainly covered Jay-Z and Kanye West tunes.

 3. You can’t get more mainstream than Disney

Becky G has it all: her image is both sensual and wholesome, which is why Disney and ABC chose her as one of the stars for their Holiday Celebration. Esta mujer lo tiene todo de todo.

4. Her family REALLY struggled when she was a kid

Sometimes life ain’t easy for a Latino family in the United States. Her family experienced precarious situations, including being left homeless and having to live in the grandparents’ garage. Now that she has it all she doesn’t take anything for granted. And some people dare to say that we Latinos are slackers… we work hard and make ends meet while keeping families together.

5. But like all strong Latina women, she rolled up her sleeves

Becky G is hardworking AF, and she did commercials and voice over jobs to help her family make ends meet. Eso mija! La familia es primero.

6. She had to be home schooled because she suffered from bullying

Becky G experiences school violence at an early age. She says she was once jumped on by a group of girls who were perhaps jealous of her work in the entertainment industry. She had to be homeschooled as a result. We can only wonder what those girls are thinking now that she is rich, famous and fabulous.

7. She started rapping when she was just 11

You are never too young to experiment. Our girl started dropping mics at the tender age of 11. If only we could access those recordings!

8. She still lives at home with her family

Becky G keeps in real and as a 21-year-old she still lives at home with her parents and her three siblings: brothers Frankie and Alex and sister Stephanie. Nothing to be ashamed of: on the contrary, family keeps her grounded. By the way, her mami still takes her places as Becky G doesn’t have a driver’s license. They must have some amazing cotorreo on the road.

9. How do you call her fans?

Beasters! Seriously, this is one of the best fandom names we know of. It sounds fierce and zero nerdish.

10. She can get political

Both Latinos and women live perilous times and Becky G knows it. When high school activists from around the country got together to protest gun violence and the system that enables it, Becky G was there to encourage them and offer support.

11. She is a big Selena fan… duh

Like any Mexican-American girl who picks up a microphone, Becky G rinde tributo a la reina Selena, who opened up the mainstream avenue for proud Latinas who don’t want to be manacled by stereotypes. Selena has also inspired Becky G’s style, as evidenced in the photo bellow:

12. She eats raw lemons as a snack!

One thing is for sure: her vitamin C levels are healthy. Becky G enjoys eating citrus food on its own. Just look at her in this Selena-inspired outfit. Maybe her healthy diet is to thank for her killer silhouette

 13. She also loves J-Lo and recognizes her influence

This is why she titled her debut single “Becky from the Block”, in clear reference to Jennifer Lopez’ famous hit “Jenny from the Block”. Latina princesses stick together. The boricua J-Lo was a pioneer in the late 1990s.

14. She is one of the most successful artists on YouTube

Get this: she has 11.5 million subscribers to her channel. Her video “Mayores” has been seen 1.4 billion times! That has translated into success for Vevo.

15. She has Jalisco blood!

She is a tapatia girl. All her four grandparents are from Jalisco, Mexico, the land of tequila and mariachis. Perhaps her ancestors were the musical type and their talent now flows on Becky G’s veins.

16. She is the face for Cover Girl

It is increasingly common for Latino power players to become representatives for global brands. Becky G’s youthful appearance and the influence she has on hordes of young buyers led Cover Girl to sign her. They are lucky to have her.

17. She slays on Spotify

Just look at her 2017 stats. Quite impressive for a young woman who just recently was making ends meet doing voice over jobs for a fraction of what she is earning now. She understands that the market is now dominated by streaming platforms and plans her promotional campaigns accordingly.

18. She has opened for Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias

Becky G is entering the mainstream and there is no stopping her now! She has opened for established artists like Spanish heartthrob Enrique Iglesias, who frequently shares the stage with Pitbull. Guau. She has also opened for Katy Perry. Se dice fácil, pero it is not. World tours are carefully staged events where every step is premeditated: big label heads recognized talent right away.

19. Becky G is a Dodgers fan, true LA girl

Becky is a true Cali girl and a Dodgers fan. The Dodgers have a long history of attachment to the Latin American community of California, with legendary players such as the Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela being key in the team’s long, glorious history.

20. … and also a Guadalupana

Like many Mexican-Americans, Becky G is a devout guadalupana and has let her amor for la virgencita be known on her social media accounts, particularly her Insta.

21. Becky G cares

 

Above all, Becky G is a sensitive human being. When the Vegas mass shooting put the whole world into alert and sent hundreds of families into mourning, Becky G quickly sent out a message of support.