**KENTINA** jacket and pants.
As a new wave of talented Gen Z Latin artists arrive on the scene and Latin music continues to skyrocket in popularity all over the world, 21 year old [Maria Becerra](https://www.instagram.com/maria_becerra22/) is poised for international superstardom. Dubbed a “Leading voice in Argentina’s urban pop movement,” Becerra merges elements of hip-hop, reggaeton, and salsa with messages of female empowerment. Her latest single, “Cazame”, featuring the Argentine rapper Tiago PZK, showcases exactly why she’s the emerging Latin artist to watch. Brimming with kindness and completely coming alive in front of the camera, it was easy for _Flaunt_ to see why Becerra is so beloved by her loyal fans.
2021 is Becerra’s biggest year yet. From collaborating with J. Balvin on his emotional and sultry track “Qué Más Pues?”, to appearing on a billboard in Times Square, Argentina’s number one most streamed artist has accomplished a lot—and she’s only just getting started. Part 2 of her highly anticipated debut album, _ANIMAL_, is set to be released this summer.
Similar to artists like Troye Sivan and Conan Gray, Becerra built a dedicated and tight-knit following through her YouTube channel before achieving her life-long dream of releasing music. In true Gen Z fashion, Becerra’s content includes everything from ASMR, to pet introductions, to covers that showcase her infectious voice. After getting to know her on a personal level through her vlog-style content, her nearly 3 million subscribers happily and wholeheartedly supported her when she released her debut EP, _222_ in 2019. At a time when fans and artists alike are craving connection, the unwavering bond that Becerra has with her fans is what will solidify her as a true force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Becerra to discuss how the pandemic has changed the industry, what she’ll be listening to this summer, and collaborating with the “Prince of Reggaeton”.
**KENTINA** tops.
**KENTINA** tops and stylist’s own pants.
**KENTINA** tops and stylist’s own pants.
**What would you like new fans who are discovering you because of “Qué Más Pues?” to know about you?**
First, I would like to thank them for listening to the song and I hope that they think my music is beautiful and helps them feel seen. I want them to know that I am a normal girl, with strengths and weaknesses. I like to sing about love, relationships, the wildest instincts that we all have inside of us. I always try to do my best and work hard for my fans.
**What inspires you to center themes of female empowerment in your music?**
In the music industry, it’s more difficult for women to find their place and be respected for their talent. That is why the urgent need arises in my songs to show women in their best form, strong and independent. It is my opportunity to give that entity to the genre, and I like to take advantage of it.
**How has your relationship with your fans grown throughout your transition from YouTube to a leading voice in the Urban Pop genre in Argentina?**
The relationship with my most loyal fans has always been strong. Of course, there are many fans who still hope that I will do the typical video blogging on my channel again, but we are including similar and unstructured content oriented to my music, and they like that too!
**What will you be listening to this summer? What upcoming releases are you most excited for?**
I really like what artists like Bad Bunny, Myke Towers, Rauw Alejandro, J. Balvin, among others, are doing! I’ll be looking forward to anything they release. They never disappoint!
**KENTINA** tops and stylist’s own pants.
**KENTINA** tops and stylist’s own pants.
**KENTINA** jacket and pants.
**What was it like collaborating with J. Balvin, one of the most influential Reggaeton artists in the world?**
I still can't believe what happened with Jose. I am a huge fan of his music and now I’ve discovered that he is also an excellent person. Recording the song and video was a great experience. We spent some incredible days in New York and were able to spend some quality time together before shooting the video. That made everything flow much better.
**What are your biggest career goals? What are you most anticipating in a post-pandemic music industry?**
My most ambitious goals are collaborations that I have not yet been able to fulfill. There are many artists worldwide that I admire and would love to be able to collaborate with. The pandemic changed the music industry forever, in the sense that all artists have to find different ways to connect with people. Post-pandemic, I want to be able to complete my tour and to be able to present my songs to the people who have been waiting for so long.
Written by [Cameron Coughlin](https://www.instagram.com/camcog_/)
Photographed by [Devin Kasparian](https://www.instagram.com/devin.pdf/)
Styling by [Luciano Sandoval Jr](https://www.instagram.com/lucci_world_/)
Hair by [Timothy Aylward](https://www.instagram.com/timothyaylward/?utm_medium=copy_link)
Makeup by [Jezz Hill](https://www.instagram.com/jezzhill/?hl=en)
Assisting by [Jose Miguel Salazar](https://www.instagram.com/josemiguelsal/)
