Lali

Mariana Espósito, professionally known as Lali Esposito, began as an award-winning Argentine actress before establishing herself as a chart-topping pop artist.

Born in 1991 in Buenos Aires’s Parque Patricios district to María José Riera and Carlos Esposito, she launched her career at twelve in the Cris Morena–produced children’s series Rincón de Luz. From 2004 to 2005 she portrayed Roberta in the children’s telenovela Floricienta, then appeared the following year as Agustina Ross in Chiquititas Sin Fin on Telefe while also joining the stage versions of both shows.

In 2007 she took the role of Marianella “Mar” Rinaldi in the youth series Casi Ángeles, which ran on Telefe through 2010 and reached audiences across multiple countries; she likewise performed in its theatrical adaptations. Music entered her path through Teen Angels, the band formed within Casi Ángeles. The group traveled through Latin America, Spain, and Israel, releasing five studio albums and two compilations between 2007 and 2012, every one certified gold or platinum.

Acting continued alongside these projects. In 2011 she joined the cast of the telenovela Cuando Me Sonreís, produced by Tomás Yankelevich. Still with Teen Angels in 2012, she made her screen debut in La Fega de Mi Vida and portrayed Abigail Williams in a stage production of Arthur Miller’s The Witches of Salem. January 2013 brought a role in the comedy series Solamente Vos and the release of her first solo album, La Bailar. Although sales fell short of her Teen Angels output, the record climbed the domestic charts and earned airplay honors throughout Latin America.

Later that year she issued the 2014 EP Asesina, shaped by producers Pablo Akselrad, Luis Burgio, and Gustavo Novello. Blending mainstream pop, dance tracks, and hip-hop, the set again reached the upper ranks of Argentine and South American pop listings. She also served as opening act for Ricky Martin’s annual charity concert. In 2015 she headlined her own dates, supported Perry’s The Prismatic World Tour, and began a two-year starring turn in the telenovela Esperanza Mía.

The next year she led Ariel Winogrand’s comedy Permitidos, whose distribution rights Disney subsequently acquired. July 2016 saw the arrival of her second album, Soy, which earned gold status and peaked at number two on the Argentine pop chart. She toured with Fifth Harmony and Martin before launching her own Lali en Vivo trek in 2017. Pre-release single “Una Na” appeared that July; her first Luna Park headline show followed in November, accompanied by the second single “Tu Novia.” On Christmas Day she released “Tu Sonrisa,” which ascended to the top of Argentina’s singles chart. February brought her featured turn on the Mau y Ricky and Karol G remix of “Mi Mala” alongside Becky G and Leslie Grace. On 13 April she issued the third pre-release track, “100 Grados,” a collaboration with Peruvian hip-hop artist A.Chal that entered Argentina’s Top Five. Her third album, Brava, was slated for August, with further touring planned to follow.