Ludmilla -

Born in Duque de Caxias, a city in the Baixada Fluminense region, Ludmilla faced severe hardship from the start.

: Her father abandoned her at birth and went to jail when she was only six weeks old. Her mother, Silvana, has shared stories of going hungry herself just so Ludmilla would have enough to eat. Ludmilla

: As a Black queer woman from the favela, Ludmilla fought through a genre (funk carioca) traditionally dominated by white, male impresarios. She has spoken openly about being "robbed" and wronged by management early on but choosing to "bounce back" and manage her own business. Born in Duque de Caxias, a city in

Before she was known as Ludmilla, she was a teenage dreamer who worshipped American pop icons. : As a Black queer woman from the

: Despite the poverty, music was her escape. By age eight, she was already singing in family "pagoda" circles, where her family first recognized her massive talent. The Rise of "MC Beyoncé"