Bio

Larissa de Macedo Machado— known globally as Anitta —was born on March 30, 1993, in the Honório Gurgel neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This area, characterized by its low Human Development Index (HDI), presented numerous challenges, but it also instilled in her a profound resilience that would later define her career.

Anitta is the youngest child of Míriam Macedo and Mauro Machado. Following her parents’ divorce during her early years, she and her older brother, Renan Machado, were raised by their mother. Míriam worked diligently as an artisan to support the family, while Mauro contributed by selling car batteries. Despite financial hardships, the family’s bond remained strong.

From a young age, Anitta exhibited a passion for music and performance. At just eight years old, encouraged by her maternal grandparents, she began singing in the choir of Santa Luzia’s Parish in her neighborhood. Her time in the church choir planted the first real seeds of her future career.

Honório Gurgel, in Rio’s North Zone, is one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods. Families there often face tough odds, with limited resources, underfunded schools, and little public investment. But for Larissa, it was also a place full of energy, sound, and community. The bailes funk, loud street parties fueled by funk carioca, were a constant presence. Their beats and lyrics weren’t just background noise, they were part of daily life. Like many kids from the area, Larissa grew up fast and learned early how to stand her ground. She would later say, “If you can make it out of Honório Gurgel, you can make it anywhere.”

Larissa’s parents separated when she was just 1 year and 8 months old. Following the divorce, her mother, Míriam, became the primary caregiver for Larissa and her older brother, Renan Machado, while her father, Mauro, moved to the Região dos Lagos region but continued to provide financial support when possible

Despite the couple’s separation, the sibling bond between Larissa and Renan remained strong. Renan would later become one of her key collaborators and eventually co-manage her musical career.

Although money was often tight, the family unit provided emotional support and instilled in Larissa a belief in her own potential—beliefs that would carry her through significant obstacles in her youth.

Maternal Grandparents & First Steps in Music

Anitta’s grandparents on her mother’s side, Pedro Júlio and Gloriete Macedo, played a big role in her early connection to music. Originally from Guarabira, Paraíba, they knew what it meant to start over and keep going, no matter how tough things got. At the Santa Luzia Parish Church in Honório Gurgel, they were deeply involved. They showed up for mass, helped with community events, and were always around the music.

Cultural & Musical Influences of the Favela

Outside the church, Larissa’s neighborhood was always alive with music—funk carioca, samba, and all the sounds of Brazilian pop. The streets were full of parties, radios blasting, and speakers booming with heavy beats and lyrics about real-life struggles and pride. Watching the local dancers and singers at these bailes funk gave her a love for dance and showed her how music could be a way to express herself and get ahead.

Her grandparents used to say, “Music comes from the people,” and that stuck with her. They taught her that staying connected to where you come from mattered just as much as being talented. Growing up like that shaped her style, which mixes funk, pop, R&B, and music from all over.

Financial Hardships & Educational Shifts

When Larissa was about 11, things got tough for her family. Her dad’s small business ran into big money problems and ended up going bankrupt. That meant he couldn’t help pay for her private school anymore. So she had to leave and switch to a public school called Escola Municipal Itália, where a lot of her friends went too.

Even though the school was different, Larissa didn’t let that slow her down. Her mom says she always pushed herself to get the best grades and never accepted anything less. With the small allowance her mom gave her, Larissa bought the basics but also started taking English classes, thinking it would help her later on.

Her grandparents stayed by her side, teaching her old songs from Paraíba that had been passed down by word of mouth. They encouraged her to learn the rhythms of forró and other music from the Northeast, making sure she stayed connected to where she came from. That mix of Rio’s streetwise funk and the traditional sounds of the Northeast would go on to shape the unique style that made Anitta famous.

By the time Larissa was in her early teens, it was clear she was growing into more than just a talented kid from Honório Gurgel. She had finished a technical course in public administration at just 16, showing the same drive in her studies that she put into music and dance.

All those years singing in church, dancing at local parties, and seeing her mom work nonstop didn’t just feed her dreams. They gave her direction. She wasn’t famous yet but the people around her could already see where she was headed.

First Steps: The Birth of MC Anitta

In 2009, at age 16, Larissa uploaded a YouTube video where she performed a funk melody while holding a deodorant can like a microphone. That clip would change her life. It caught the attention of Renato Azevedo, better known as Batutinha, a respected producer with ties to Furacão 2000—the iconic funk label in Rio. Impressed by her vocal ability and charisma, Batutinha brought her in for auditions.

Inspired by the character Anita from the miniseries Presença de Anita, she adopted the stage name “Anitta”.

Soon after, she was signed to Furacão 2000 and started performing under the name MC Anitta. The “MC” title gave her credibility in Rio’s competitive funk scene. Her early songs, including “Eu Vou Ficar” and “Fica Só Olhando,” appeared on Furacão’s compilation DVDs, which were popular throughout Brazil. She began performing in nightclubs and parties in Rio’s suburbs, building a name for herself within the funk community.

In 2010, she officially debuted as MC Anitta with Furacão 2000, performing at baile funk events across Rio and the Baixada Fluminense (notably “Rei do Bacalhau” in Duque de Caxias)

Meiga e Abusada: Las Vegas Moment That Broke Brazil

Soon after freeing herself from Furacão, Anitta recorded “Meiga e Abusada.” With a video shot in Las Vegas by director Blake Farber (who had worked with Beyoncé), Anitta looked more international than any Brazilian pop act at the time.

Her gamble paid off in January 2013 when she signed with Warner Music Brasil and released “Meiga e Abusada.” The track broke into Brazil’s top ten most requested songs—and more importantly, it got the radio playing and the industry paying attention

The Breakthrough: “Show das Poderosas”

Anitta had just crossed a major threshold but she wasn’t stopping there. She believed in “Show das Poderosas” even when others wanted something else. She decided to release it over another song (Tá Na Mira) she didn’t like. On April 16, 2013, the single dropped and took off. Within days it was a hit on radio play charts. By the end of the month the music video became the most watched Brazilian video on YouTube.

It wasn’t just a hit, it was a phenomenon. The song topped charts, its black-and-white music video went viral, and Anitta became a national sensation. Unlike many funk hits that stayed regional, “Show das Poderosas” crossed over to mainstream audiences and got major radio play.

The success of the single helped her self-titled debut album sell more than 40,000 copies in its first week, earning a gold certification. She became a frequent guest on TV shows, won awards, and began selling out shows across Brazil. What made her success unique was her control: Anitta was heavily involved in all aspects of her brand, from music to visuals to marketing.

By the end of 2013, Anitta had stopped being just a funk artist from the favela. She was a multi-dimensional performer from Brazil making bold choices and taking ownership of her career. Her journey from MC Anitta to pop sensation taught her powerful lessons that she still brings into every new release and collaboration.

Crafting the Anitta Persona

Anitta was more than a pop star—she was a strategist. Inspired by the character “Anita” from the Brazilian miniseries Presença de Anita, she wanted to create a persona that was sensual, smart, and mysterious. She studied marketing and branding, and took cues from American pop icons. She wasn’t afraid to be bold, controversial, or different.

This strategic thinking helped her navigate the male-dominated music industry with confidence. She was more than just a voice, she was a businesswoman, choreographer, creative director, and brand in herself. She even admitted in interviews that she viewed her career like a CEO would view a company.

Touring Brazil and Building a Fanbase

She toured Brazil relentlessly after her album release. From stadium shows to small towns, her energy sold her brand and her music.

She built a massive online following too, interacting with fans directly on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. For a generation that was living more and more online, Anitta felt accessible. She started trending—#Anitters became a thing .

She understood digital culture. She dropped remixes, lyric videos, dance challenges. She even judged on La Voz México and spoke at Harvard’s Brazil Conference about her strategies.

Challenges and Growth

Success came fast, but so did scrutiny. Anitta faced criticism about her voice, her looks, and her background. Some dismissed her as just another funk artist trying to go pop. But instead of retreating, she doubled down. She took vocal lessons, refined her dancing, and worked harder. She also made it clear she was proud of her roots, speaking often about how funk carioca gave her a platform when no one else would.

She used interviews and social media to speak out against elitism and misogyny, often calling attention to how women in Brazilian music are judged more harshly than men. Her boldness made her a polarizing figure, but it also cemented her reputation as someone unafraid to speak her mind.

She also laid groundwork for international success. She recorded Spanish versions, collaborated with Maluma, J Balvin. She did the Olympics opening ceremony, topped regional radio charts, brought funk to Latino audiences. By 2016, she was labeled Brazil’s answer to Ricky Martin or Shakira.

Open Discussions on Plastic Surgery

In 2013, Anitta made a memorable television appearance on the popular Brazilian variety show Domingão do Faustão, hosted by Fausto Silva. What made this appearance stand out was that Anitta showed up with a fresh bandage on her nose, clearly revealing she had just undergone rhinoplasty surgery. This was one of the first times she openly shared her experience with plastic surgery on such a large platform, sparking wide public and media attention. This openness was unconventional at the time, as many celebrities chose to keep such procedures private. Anitta’s transparency sparked conversations about body image and the societal pressures faced by women in the entertainment industry.

During the show, Anitta explained that the surgery was necessary to correct breathing issues caused by a previous breast reduction operation. She admitted that the breathing problem was affecting her singing voice, describing it humorously as “singing like a duck.”

Anitta’s decision to appear on TV so soon after surgery was bold and unusual for a Brazilian celebrity at the time. Social media erupted with reactions, ranging from support to mockery. Some users created memes and jokes, nicknaming her with playful but harsh references such as “capybara nose” because of the bandage’s shape, and even comparing her to fictional characters like Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter because of the visible nose covering.

Despite this backlash, Anitta showed remarkable resilience and good humor. She publicly stated that she was not bothered by the negative comments and embraced her decision unapologetically. Her attitude sent a strong message about self-acceptance and confidence, which only endeared her more to fans who admired her authenticity.

Over the years, Anitta has been unusually transparent about the cosmetic surgeries and aesthetic procedures she has undergone. Besides the rhinoplasty, she has openly admitted to having breast reduction surgery, lip fillers, jaw contouring, and liposuction. In interviews, she has repeatedly emphasized that these changes were made purely for her own satisfaction and self-esteem, not to conform to anyone else’s expectations or societal beauty standards.

Anitta once likened her surgeries to changing hairstyles — a way to reinvent herself and express her personality. She also challenged the stigma around cosmetic surgery by discussing it openly, encouraging people to respect personal choices and the complex relationship many have with their bodies.

Anitta’s openness about her plastic surgeries helped build an image of authenticity in a world where many celebrities hide such procedures. Instead of diminishing her credibility, this honesty contributed to her reputation as a strong, relatable figure who is unafraid to show vulnerability and imperfection.

Her willingness to talk about surgeries, body image, and self-love has made her a role model for many young people, especially women in Brazil and Latin America who face immense pressure to meet narrow beauty ideals. This transparency also reflects in her music videos and performances, such as in “Vai Malandra,” where she embraces her natural body without airbrushing or hiding imperfections like cellulite.

This period also coincided with her expanding musical ambitions and strategic moves in the industry, where she started to mix funk carioca with pop, R&B, and international sounds.

Ritmo Perfeito

Following the massive success of her debut album, Anitta released her second studio album, Ritmo Perfeito, on June 3, 2014, under Warner Music Brasil. This release coincided with her first live album and DVD, Meu Lugar, showcasing her versatility as an artist.

Anitta vs. Kamilla Fialho: The Legal Battle That Changed Everything

By August 2014, Anitta announced her split from Fialho, citing a desire for greater autonomy over her career. This decision was a significant move towards self-management, a path not commonly taken by artists in Brazil at the time.

The separation led to a legal battle, with Anitta accusing Fialho of financial mismanagement, alleging that R$2.5 million were unaccounted for. Fialho countered with a lawsuit demanding R$9.5 million. The dispute concluded in 2019 with a settlement that granted Anitta the rights to her music masters upon payment of the agreed amount.

Following the split, Anitta founded her own company, Rodamoinho, taking full control of her career. This move allowed her to make strategic decisions regarding her music, image, and business ventures.

Anitta’s journey from a managed artist to an independent powerhouse exemplifies her determination and business acumen. Her ability to navigate the complexities of the music industry, coupled with her willingness to confront challenges head-on, has been instrumental in her rise to stardom.

BANG! Era

Released on October 13, 2015, Bang! was Anitta’s third studio album, showcasing a blend of pop, R&B, reggae, samba, and funk carioca. The album featured collaborations with artists like Nego do Borel, Vitin, Jhama, Dubeat, MC Duduzinho, and the rap group ConeCrewDiretoria. Produced by a team including Mãozinha, Rafael Castilhol, Jeff, Toninho Aguiar, Kalfani, Umberto Tavares, Papatinho, and Pedro Dash, the album was recorded in studios across Rio de Janeiro. It achieved gold certification in pre-orders alone, with over 40,000 copies sold before its official release.

The album’s visual presentation was crafted by Giovanni Bianco, known for his work with Madonna. Anitta entrusted Bianco with the creative direction, resulting in a pop art-inspired aesthetic that permeated the album cover and music videos. The cover art featured Anitta in a black and white photo with colorful accents, exuding a playful empowered image.

The title track, “Bang,” was released as a single on October 9, 2015, accompanied by a visually striking music video directed by Bruno Ilogti and art-directed by Giovanni Bianco. The video, characterized by its black-and-white palette with vibrant animations, showcased Anitta’s choreography and playful personas, including a devilish figure and a catwoman. The production involved over 50 professionals and was Anitta’s first video where she relinquished creative control, placing full trust in Bianco’s vision.

The video premiered at a private event in Rio de Janeiro, with stringent security measures to prevent leaks. Upon its release on YouTube, it garnered significant attention, amassing 80,000 views within 15 minutes.

Shortly before the video’s release, Anitta initiated a Twitter campaign inviting fans to use a hashtag to win an exclusive viewing session. Blogger Maurício Cid of “Não Salvo” encouraged his followers to vote for the state of Acre, leading to a viral movement. Although Acre ultimately placed second, Anitta responded by emphasizing respect for all Brazilian states, highlighting issues of regional prejudice.

In November 2015, YouTuber Kéfera Buchmann released a parody of the “Bang” video, which surpassed the original’s view count within 24 hours, sparking discussions about internet culture and the dynamics of parody versus original content.

Following “Bang,” Anitta released “Essa Mina É Louca,” featuring Jhama. The music video, directed by Bruno Ilogti with creative direction by Giovanni Bianco. The narrative included a playful storyline culminating in a kiss between Anitta and actress Ísis Valverde, showcasing themes of fluidity and empowerment.

The Bang! era solidified Anitta’s position as a leading figure in Brazilian pop music. Her willingness to explore diverse musical styles, embrace bold visual aesthetics, and engage with social issues resonated with a broad audience. The era’s blend of commercial success and cultural discourse set the stage for her subsequent international endeavors.

TV Host, Remixes, and Global Reach

In March 2016, Anitta took on something new. She became the host of Música Boa ao Vivo on Multishow, a weekly show that brought together artists from different genres to perform live. She ran the show with ease, introducing musicians, chatting between sets, and joining in on performances. It let people see another side of her—the one that’s playful, spontaneous, and totally in control. She wasn’t only the girl in the music videos anymore. She was someone who could run a room full of samba legends, sertanejo stars, and funk MCs, all while keeping the audience hooked.

Every week, she sang everything from MPB to axé. She adapted to each rhythm and sang live alongside big names like Jorge & Mateus and Sorriso Maroto. For many viewers, it was the first time they realized how well-rounded she really was. The show didn’t just boost her credibility—it expanded her reach. People who didn’t usually listen to her music started tuning in just to see what she’d do next.

Not long after her debut as a host, Anitta caught people off guard again. In the middle of 2016, she released a remix of Ginza with J Balvin. The original track was already huge in the Latin world, but when her version came out, it lit up Brazilian playlists. Her Portuguese verse added something new and unexpected to the song, and it didn’t feel like a forced collaboration. It felt natural. That one feature opened a door. It marked her first real step into the Latin market, and it let people outside Brazil hear her for the first time. She had been watching the industry, studying how to break out, and now she was finally putting that plan into action.

A Bold Move: Sim ou Não with Maluma

In July 2016, Anitta dropped Sim ou Não featuring Colombian star Maluma. They filmed the video in Mexico City under the direction of Jessy Terrero, the same director behind videos by Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, filming it in a nightclub setting on July 4. That single shot marked the first time Anitta officially crossed into Latin pop territory.

The Sim ou Não video was an immediate hit. Anitta appeared in six different glam looks, from striking red lipstick to a voluminous hairstyle that felt like a throwback. On-screen, she and Maluma exchanged flirty glances and moved in sync, their chemistry strong enough to spark rumors right away. In an interview with Hola! magazine, Maluma played it cool, saying they were just friends, but he also admitted he would not mind dating her. Anitta, speaking later on Argentine television, acknowledged there had been chemistry, though she clarified that everything began professionally.

Anitta approached the project with precision. She choreographed the dance routines herself, chose outfits that let her move freely, and even followed a stricter diet to feel more confident on camera. Every element was deliberate. It was clear she was thinking on a global level, shaping not just the sound but the entire visual identity of the release.

She brought the song to Brazilian TV with high-energy performances on shows like Caldeirão do Huck, Encontro com Fátima Bernardes, and X Factor Brasil. Even though Maluma did not join her for these appearances, the performances still stood out. In Mexico, the song broke into the top 60 and climbed to number three on Spotify Brasil in its first week, racking up over a million streams. It also made appearances on charts in Chile and Mexico and reached number 15 on Brazil’s Billboard Hot 100 Airplay.

Maluma later said in a podcast that he had seen Anitta on Instagram before they ever met, and that things just clicked between them. Though they eventually went their separate ways professionally, he admitted they liked each other a lot. Life on the road and the demands of their careers made it hard to turn that into something more.

Olympic Stage and Global Management

August 5, 2016 marked a turning point in Anitta’s career. That night, she stood under the lights of Maracanã Stadium, sharing the stage with Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. The occasion was the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, watched by millions around the world. For many Brazilians, it was a proud moment to see their rising pop star featured alongside such icons. Anitta was not just performing a song, she was being introduced to the world as part of Brazil’s cultural identity. It was a rare kind of validation, especially for someone who had only recently transitioned from local funk stages to national TV.

The performance itself was brief but symbolic. Her presence signaled a shift. It said that Brazil’s voice on the global stage was evolving and that Anitta represented the new generation. She held her own beside artists who had shaped the country’s musical heritage for decades, and did so with the poise of someone who knew she belonged there. That confidence would prove crucial in what came next.

Only a month later, Anitta made another bold move. She signed with William Morris Endeavor, one of the biggest talent agencies in the world. WME was home to international stars across music, film, and sports. By signing with them, Anitta was no longer operating just as a successful pop star in Brazil. She had entered the global business arena with top-tier representation. It showed that she was serious about expanding beyond the Portuguese-speaking world, and that she understood the need to surround herself with people who had the reach and influence to help get her there.

This period marked the beginning of a new phase in her career. It was no longer about proving herself in Brazil. That part had already been done. Now, she was laying the groundwork for a crossover into other markets. The Olympic stage had offered visibility. The WME contract provided the tools. What came next would be about strategy, reinvention, and persistence.

After the global visibility of the Olympics, Anitta knew she had to keep the momentum going. She returned home with her focus locked in. Just a few months later, in November 2016, she was back on the international radar at the MTV Europe Music Awards. For the second year in a row, she won Best Brazilian Act—a clear signal that her name was holding weight far beyond Brazil’s borders.

Around that same time, her song “Bang!” made its way into a different kind of arena. Ubisoft added the track to Just Dance 2017, placing Anitta alongside major global pop names in one of the world’s most recognizable video game franchises. To celebrate the game’s release, Ubisoft organized a flash mob at Avenida Paulista in São Paulo. Hundreds of dancers filled the street to perform her choreography, and Anitta herself showed up to perform. That moment blurred the lines between music, gaming, and public spectacle. It was loud, colorful, and impossible to ignore.

Behind the lights and headlines, though, Anitta stayed deeply involved in everything tied to her name. She was not the type to be led around by a label or an agency. Since the beginning, she had insisted on being in control. By late 2016, that attitude had only grown sharper. She reviewed scripts, approved costume designs, picked her choreographers, and managed how she was presented in the press. She was the final say in almost every move. It wasn’t easy, especially as she juggled filming TV performances, planning her tours, and preparing the next phase of her Latin crossover.

CheckMate & Funk Return

By the end of 2016, Anitta was already thinking far beyond the usual single or album cycle. She wanted to show the world she could move effortlessly between different languages and genres without losing the essence of who she was. This idea took shape in what became known as Project CheckMate. Throughout 2017, she released new songs every month in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Each track was like a move on a chessboard, carefully planned to show off her versatility and appeal to a global audience.

The project culminated in December with the release of “Vai Malandra,” a powerful return to her funk carioca roots. Unlike the polished and glamorous videos that often dominate pop, this one was raw and real. Shot in the Vidigal favela, the video captured the energy and life of everyday Rio—the streets, the music, the people, and Anitta herself, unapologetic and proud. She showed off her curves, sweat glistening on her skin, dancing with friends and neighbors. There were no filters, no edits to hide anything. It was a bold statement that connected deeply with her fans and even those discovering her for the first time.

The impact was immediate and massive. In just 24 hours, “Vai Malandra” smashed YouTube Brazil’s records with over 16 million views. It quickly climbed Spotify Brazil’s top 50 and even appeared on global charts, something rare for a song so deeply rooted in local culture.

This era was a turning point. It was Anitta stepping fully into her power, blending worlds that many thought were too different to mix. She was showing that being a global star did not mean leaving her roots behind. Instead, she was bringing them with her and making them shine brighter than ever before.