About this artist
With an extensive resumé that includes actress, singer, author, and model, Venezuelan-American entertainer Lele Pons kicked off her career as a popular social media star known for her relatable, comedic content that helped amass a significant youthful audience. After years on the Internet, she eventually made steps into the music spotlight with the dancehall/reggaeton-inspired 2018 singles “Celoso” and “Dicen,” her platinum duet with Matt Hunter.
Born Eleonora Pons Maronese in Caracas, she moved to Miami at the age of five, where she was raised until another move to Los Angeles when she entered high school. During these teen years, she discovered her knack for making people laugh — often as a defense against bullying and social isolation — which she channeled onto social media. Her content turned out to be so popular that she hit a billion views and was even invited to the White House in 2015. The following year, she co-authored a book with Melissa de la Cruz titled Surviving High School. From there, Pons began acting, first in the movie We Love You and later in the Scream television adaptation. She then featured in music videos by Camila Cabello (“Havana”) and Anitta and J Balvin (“Downtown”).
By 2018, it was time to add singer/songwriter to her burgeoning resumé. Pons’ first single, the breezy, tropical “Dicen” with Matt Hunter, arrived that year and rose into the Latin Top 30 before going platinum. She followed with the reggaeton-tinged “Celoso” that summer before joining La Voz Mexico as the singing competition show’s host. That year, she also collaborated on Spanish singer Aitana’s single “Telefono” remix — in November, Pons presented her with a Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal album.
Pons returned to recording in 2019, duetting with Fuego on the charting single “Bloqueo.” It peaked at number 42 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, while its video racked up more than 52 million views. In December, Pons issued the single “Vete Pa La,” and with Chelsea Briggs, she co-hosted the red carpet for 2019′s Billboard Women in Music awards. In March 2020, Pons issued the electro-cumbia video single “Volar,” featuring Susan Díaz and Victor Cardenas. A month later, she shared the trailer for The Secret Life of Lele Pons, a five-part docuseries exploring her lifelong struggles with mental health; its debut episode aired on May 19. In September, Pons and reggaetonero Guaynaa issued the electro-dembow single “Se Te Nota.” It peaked well inside the Top 40, while its video registered 89 million views during its first month of release. ~ Neil Z. Yeung