Get to know the group that boasts nearly 2 million followers before they've even released their debut album.
Meet Bella Dose, the Bilingual Latina Girl Group Taking Over TikTok
Sitting on the floor leaning against the edge of a bed with their eyes fastened shut, the four members of Bella Dose, the world’s first bilingual Latin pop girl group, harmonize to Billie Eilish’s song “Goldwing.” It’s a request by one of their 1.7 million TikTok followers that they happily honor in their ongoing video series, in which they cover commenter-requested songs like the theme song to Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses and Ariana Grande’s “No Tears Left to Cry.”
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Often clad in color-coordinating outfits that would make even the Spice Girls jealous, the group hasn’t even released their debut album yet, but they’re already proving their vocal game to be all but unmatched. Comparisons to the likes of Fifth Harmony and BlackPink have started, though their sound is distinctly their own.
They are: Melany Rivera, 21; Brianna Leah, 18; Jenni Hernandez, 23; and Thais Rodriguez, 22. Formed in 2017, the group is the brainchild of Vicky Curiel, who held auditions across the United States to find talented young women to lead the first ever bilingual Latin pop girl group. As luck had it, Curiel found the girls on her Miami stop and flew them to Los Angeles to teach them guitar, piano, music theory, and even sound engineering so they could manage their own sessions.
With a hands-on approach to their music, the girls hunkered down and began to write their own songs, film videos, and amass millions of followers across social media. Get to know the soon-to-be-international sensations and TikTok masters whose adventures on the app have inspired others to follow their dreams for the latest installment of New Here.
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Glamour: How does it feel to be the world’s first bilingual Latin pop girl group?
Thais Rodriguez: It feels amazing to represent our culture and people. We truly take pride in who we are, so it’s incredible that we can portray that through our music by combining both languages and many genres.
Why was it important for you to create songs in both English and Spanish?
Melany Rivera: Being that we were all born in the United States, and all of our families are Latino, we found it extremely important to incorporate both languages in our music. Although we grew up in the U.S., we would always come home to a Spanish-speaking household with Latin food and Spanish music blasting from our radios. We feel that it’s crucial to appeal to both the domestic and Latin markets to connect with more people and connect with our fans.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Melany: Some of my musical inspirations are Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez! I would spend hours in front of the TV as a little girl, mimicking all of their dance moves.
Brianna Leah: Etta James, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and Ariana Grande, because I’ve always loved singers with big voices.
Jenni Hernandez: The Beatles, Queen, Beyoncé, and Michael Jackson. I admire these artists because of their dedication to their craft and the love for music that they have.
Thais: Selena and Michael Jackson. I love how they made timeless music. I aspire to be like them and do the same.
What’s your favorite song that you’ve worked on so far?
Melany: My favorite song that we’ve worked on so far is unfortunately not out yet! It was such a fun song, and it’s so different from the rest of our music. I can’t wait for us to share it with the world.
Let’s talk TikTok—how did it feel to hit 1 million followers? How are you going to celebrate when you hit 2 million? You’re so close!
Brianna: When we woke up to 1 million followers, it was unreal. We worked really hard to get to the point, and it felt crazy to get there.
Jenni: I know! It’s truly a blessing to have so many people support us. We will probably go out to dinner and make a cute video for our fans.
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What do you think is the key to your success on TikTok?
Brianna: Consistency is key! We noticed just posting and having fun with it is the best way to gain success.
Have any favorite creators on the app?
Thais: I love @yuungali!! I love her personality and sense of humor. She’s definitely someone I would want to be friends with.
If you could describe Bella Dose in three words, what would they be?
Melany: Bella Dose is fierce, determined, and ambitious!
Your style is on point in every single Insta and TikTok, so be honest—do you raid one another’s closets? How would you describe your personal style?
Melany: We definitely raid each other’s closets. It’s so much fun because we get to mix each other’s clothes with one another, and it’s like an everyday game of dress-up. I would describe my personal style as soft and angelic with a bit of edge. Bri’s style is a mix of business with a Y2K twist to it. Jenni’s style is very sexy, sporty, and Thais gives off very much ’90s baddie vibes!
Is there an artist you’d like to collab with as a group?
Thais: We would love to collaborate with Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, and Rosalía.
What’s next for Bella Dose?
Melany: We are working on so much music! What we’re releasing next is very different from what we’ve released in the past. So expect the unexpected….
Marilyn La Jeunesse is a writer in New York City. Follow her on Instagram @mtlajeunesse.
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This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast
