It’s been quite a year for Rosalía. The Barcelona-born singer-songwriiter clinched a coveted “Best New Artist” nomination at the 2020 Grammys, showing up on the red carpet with nails to die for and winning in the “Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album” category for her album El Mal Querer.
Although Rosalía has been in the public eye for years and is well-known for redefining the genre of flamenco music, there’s still plenty to be learned about her; below, find a brief list of things you likely didn’t know about the 27-year-old star.
1. She speaks three languages. Rosalía is fluent in English and Spanish as well as Catalan, a language spoken widely in eastern Spain. In 2019, “Milionària” became the first song that Rosalía performed in Catalan.
2. She got her start on reality TV. At just 15, Rosalía appeared on the talent-scouting program Tú Sí Que Vales, singing “Como En Un Mar Eterno” by Hanna. (No, she didn’t win, but it doesn’t seem to have slowed her down!) You can even watch the whole audition for yourself, thanks to the magic of the internet.
3. She keeps it in the family, fashion-wise. Rosalía’s sister Pili Vila Tobella acts as her stylist—the sisters are very close, with Pili’s fashion sense often influencing Rosalía’s. “Playing with clothes, taking pictures has always been our way of having fun,” Rosalía has said of her relationship with her sister.
4. She may have found early-pandemic love. In March of 2020, Rosalía allegedly began dating Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro. The two have even released music together, so it has to be real.
5. She’s branching out beyond music alone. Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodóvar cast Rosalía alongside Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas in his film Dolor y Gloria (and yes, Rosalía sang in the movie.) Almodóvar had apparently been a fan of Rosalía’s for some time before casting her.