In July 2017, Anitta, Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar, and electronic music legend Major Lazer released the music video for Sua Cara. Filmed in Morocco’s Sahara Desert under scorching 47 °C, this video broke records, dazzled audiences worldwide, and remains a milestone in Anitta’s international pop career.
Sua Cara (Portuguese: “Your Face”) was the second single from Major Lazer’s Know No Better EP, released on July 30, 2017. Recorded in February 2017, it emerged just after Brazil’s Carnival. And despite its seemingly effortless aesthetic, the video came with heatstroke, sandstorms, and a fair amount of behind-the-scenes drama.
Diplo had been circling Brazilian music for years. He’d flirted with baile funk, worked with Banda Uó, and had taken a strong interest in the country’s music scene. He met Anitta backstage at Lollapalooza Brazil in 2016 and saw in her the kind of pop force that could cross borders. Soon after, he sent her a demo that became the foundation for “Sua Cara.”
Anitta brought in Pabllo Vittar, who at the time was riding the momentum of hits like “K.O.” and “Todo Dia.” She believed a collaboration between them would send a bigger message. Diplo agreed, and the trio headed into the studio to record what would become one of the most talked-about Brazilian singles of the decade.
During the shoot, the production made use of practical effects involving wind machines and sand blowers to create dynamic desert storms on camera. The natural wind in the Sahara was unpredictable and sometimes too light, so these devices helped give the video that signature swirling sand and dramatic movement seen throughout. According to interviews with the director Bruno Ilogti, these effects were crucial to enhance the raw energy and intensity of the scenes, especially in close-ups with Anitta and Pabllo Vittar. This blend of natural and artificial elements helped make the visuals feel both authentic and cinematic, setting the video apart from typical tropical or urban pop videos.
The video was shot in Ouarzazate, Morocco — a place known for hosting Hollywood productions like “Gladiator” and “Game of Thrones.” But this was no cushy studio shoot. Temperatures reached 47°C (116°F). The sand burned. Makeup melted. Anitta and Pabllo took turns recovering in a tiny air-conditioned trailer between takes. Diplo, ever the minimalist, flew in, filmed his scenes in just a few hours, and left.
During the filming of Sua Cara, the intense desert heat wasn’t the only challenge. The crew had to work around local customs, including the Ramadan fasting period observed by many Moroccans. This meant the local staff couldn’t eat or drink during daylight hours, which added an extra layer of difficulty to the shoot. This behind-the-scenes detail shows how the production respected local culture while pushing through tough conditions to deliver a stunning video.
The shoot lasted a single day. They started before sunrise and wrapped after sundown. There was no phone signal, barely any rest, and a lot of improvisation. Choreography had to be adapted to the terrain, and wardrobe changes were done behind dunes. Pabllo later called it one of the most exhausting shoots of their career.
One scene that never made it into the final cut involved a real cobra. Anitta had planned to film a dance sequence with the snake, adding a touch of exotic flair to the desert setting. But when the cobra suddenly turned in her direction, she froze. Later, she admitted that moment was enough for her to decide she was done with the idea. The footage existed, but it was ultimately cut by Major Lazer’s team. The snake scene had been inspired by Anitta’s vision of blending Middle Eastern imagery into the video’s styling. Even though it didn’t make it into the final version, fans still talk about it. Behind-the-scenes clips and interviews turned the snake moment into a small part of the video’s legacy, remembered as one of those wild things that almost happened.
Everything was styled by Yasmine Sterea, with creative direction from Giovanni Bianco — the same guy behind some of Madonna’s most iconic looks. There’s no storyline in the traditional sense. Instead, the video leans on presence, rhythm, and heat.
The video premiered at Anitta’s LGBTQ+ party, Combatchy, in Rio. As the crowd danced, the video dropped on YouTube. Within 24 hours, it had more than 17 million views. At the time, it was one of the fastest-growing music videos ever released by a Brazilian artist.
People engaged. Memes, dance challenges, makeup tutorials, fashion breakdowns. The clip became a cultural event.
For Anitta, it was another bold move in her transition from Brazilian superstar to global pop force. She’d already worked with Iggy Azalea and dropped “Paradinha,” her first Spanish-language single. But “Sua Cara” proved she could play in the international big leagues.
The buzz wasn’t all positive. Not long after the video’s release, rumors started flying about tension between Anitta and Pabllo. Theories included disputes over tour payments, personality clashes, and scheduling disagreements. Anitta dropped cryptic tweets. Pabllo remained largely silent. Fans took sides.
Still, the video’s legacy remained intact. Time has cooled the drama, and the artists have since appeared publicly without incident. But for a while, the backstage tension became nearly as famous as the video itself.
Two queer Brazilian artists took their swagger to the desert and made something unignorable. It’s become a reference point — for styling, for crossover strategy, and for how Brazilian pop can assert itself globally without diluting what makes it unique.
It paved the way for future videos, set a higher bar for visual quality, and gave queer visibility a megaphone in a way few mainstream pop collaborations had done before.
As of 2025, the video has passed 400 million views. That kind of longevity isn’t typical for pop songs — especially not ones in Portuguese. But “Sua Cara” keeps getting rediscovered, shared, and referenced.
You’ll hear it at Pride parades, in gyms, on playlists from São Paulo to Madrid. Its message hasn’t dulled. If anything, it hits harder in retrospect.
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