Kenia Os has paid her dues. In new album ‘K de Karma,’ she takes back her power

Mexico’s reigning pop princess is entering her femme fatale era.

Kenia Os’s last album, 2024’s “Pink Aura,” showcased a sweet and innocent image, but her new album, “K de Karma,” releasing this Friday, marks a clear departure from that style.

Os, originally Kenia Guadalupe Flores Osuna from Mazatlán, Mexico, has quickly become a Latin Grammy-nominated pop singer in less than ten years. Despite being only 26, she’s overcome many challenges, including constant criticism of her appearance online and doubts about her shift to pop music.

In a recent interview with the L.A. Times, the Mexican superstar described how she channeled her experiences into her boldest and most sensual music to date.

“I really discovered who I am through those difficult times,” the 26-year-old shared during a Zoom call from her Los Angeles hotel room. She’d swapped her usual bold, red outfits for a more casual black tank top and jeans while getting ready for her tour.

This album is all about feeling powerful and taking control. It has a strong sense of righting wrongs and believing that good things will come to those who deserve them – that what’s meant to be yours will find its way to you.

Os grew up listening to strong female pop singers and found inspiration in many artists. She remembers her mother playing Selena Quintanilla and Jenni Rivera, but she also admired American stars like Miley Cyrus (especially her character Hannah Montana), Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, and Selena Gomez.

She says she’s long drawn inspiration from female artists. For her, the strength and influence of women are central to her work.

Os reflects on her teenage years, when she openly shared her life on YouTube and later platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and still remembers the hurtful comments about her body. She explains that her weight changed during that time due to hormonal conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.

She explains how tough it is to deal with criticism about your body – whether it’s weight gain or simply having a natural shape. Growing up, it was especially challenging because society places so much emphasis on appearance. Now, she feels much better, grateful that she’s been able to prioritize her health, understand her body, and heal emotionally. This journey has made her a more resilient person.

Os faced another challenge in her career: the existing prejudice against social media personalities becoming pop stars. While artists like Addison Rae, Tate McRae, and Charli D’Amelio successfully started on social media and then became performers, Os believes Mexico isn’t as accepting of this career path compared to the U.S. or Canada.

“It’s been a challenge to get people in Mexico to see me as a singer,” she explains. “I’m not claiming to be perfect, but I’m building a dedicated fanbase, and we’re achieving amazing things together.” She’s referring to her large online following – she has 26.3 million followers on TikTok and 18.2 million on Instagram.

When Os started her singing career in 2018, she faced criticism for both her dancing and the use of vocal effects. She acknowledges she’s improved a lot since then, taking singing and dance lessons to hone her skills. In 2022, three years later, she signed with Sony Music Mexico and released her polished first album, “Cambios De Luna.”

Ever since then, Os has become the biggest name in Latin pop here in Mexico. I’ve seen them tour the country multiple times, and every single show has been completely sold out – it’s incredible!

She explains that it’s been challenging for people to accept her transition from creating content – something she still enjoys – to also being a singer. She feels some people don’t appreciate her artistic work and dedication, despite her continuing to work as hard as ever. She’s proud to be charting alongside established artists and feels she’s successfully committed to a music career. Ultimately, she views it as a positive experience that has led to significant personal growth and self-discovery.

Os gained international recognition in 2022 with her visual album, “K23.” In 2023, her playful song “Malas Decisiones” became a huge hit on TikTok, racking up over 340 million streams on Spotify. This success led to her first U.S. tour, and “K23” received a nomination for Long Form Music Video at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards.

She says she really enjoyed the experience and while winning a Grammy would be amazing, she’s now focused on creating music she loves for her fans, and isn’t chasing awards.

Following Taylor Swift’s example, Kenia Os released a concert film, “Kenia Os: La OG,” in cinemas across the U.S. and Mexico last year.

With the release of her new track “K De Karma,” Os is embracing a bolder, more confident persona – one she first showcased in the striking music video for “Belladona.” The video, directed by Daniel Eguren, powerfully portrays her femininity and features dramatic imagery like a car explosion and businessmen submitting to her influence.

Os says she no longer feels pressure to appear sexy or sensual. She explains that how she presents herself now feels genuine and authentic, reflecting who she truly is as a woman right now.

Okay, so I’ve been listening to her new album, and it’s amazing! She told an interviewer that a huge inspiration was the LGBTQ+ community – they’ve really been there for her through everything. It’s so cool because she’s paying them back with the music itself! She basically transforms her persona from this darker ‘Belladona’ vibe into ‘Primadonna’ with these super fun, dance-floor-ready house tracks like ‘Slay,’ ‘Problemática,’ and ‘Boom In Your Face.’ It’s like a thank you note set to a beat, and honestly, it works.

She wanted to create a fun and unique experience for her LGBTQ+ fans. She feels incredibly grateful for their unwavering support, considering them her most dedicated followers. Performing for a crowd largely made up of this community is something she finds deeply rewarding.

Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison unexpectedly joined forces with Os on the album “K De Karma.” Together, they co-wrote the sweet love song “Tú y Yo X Siempre” and also created “Días Tristes,” a track that evokes the feeling of the classic 80s song “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes” by Jeanette.

Os shared that she and Morrison created a third song which is still in progress. She described working with Morrison as ‘magical,’ praising her as an exceptional and kind person. Os also revealed that Morrison shared inspiring words with her throughout the past year, which she deeply needed to hear.

In her personal life, Os is enjoying a relationship with singer Peso Pluma. They first worked together on the song “Tommy & Pamela” in 2024, and later confirmed they were dating last year. Os has even joined Pluma on some dates of his recent Dinastía Tour.

Os shared how wonderful it is to have a partner who understands their struggles and can offer helpful advice based on their own life experiences. They especially appreciate having someone they can truly rely on for complete understanding and support.

I’m so excited for her! She’s really looking forward to the Mexico part of her “K de Karma Tour,” which starts on April 25th in her hometown. She’s also hoping to add some shows in the US soon, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that happens!

Os hopes this album will help expand their fanbase internationally. Ultimately, though, their biggest priority is that listeners enjoy the music.

2026-03-20 20:32

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