CHIQUIS: Turning Pain into Power

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting across from people who’ve shaped culture, overcome extraordinary odds, and used their voices to uplift others.

Born Janney Marín Rivera, Chiquis grew up in the long shadow of music royalty. As the eldest daughter of the legendary Jenni Rivera, the world knew her name before she even had the chance to define it for herself. But while fame might have been inherited, identity was not. That, Chiquis had to forge on her own — through heartbreak, headlines, and the kind of pressure most of us can’t begin to fathom.

Her story begins in the neighborhoods of Compton and Long Beach — cities that shaped her toughness and heart. As the oldest of five siblings, Chiquis stepped into responsibility early, often acting as a second mother and her mom’s right hand. From a young age, she was helping Jenni run her businesses, learning the ropes of entrepreneurship not from textbooks, but from lived experience. She didn’t go to college — her education came from the grind, from late nights, real-world lessons, and watching her mother navigate the music and business worlds with unmatched determination.

That hands-on experience became the foundation for her own dreams. Chiquis eventually opened Blow Me Dry, a salon in Encino, CA., that reflected her boldness and ambition. And although the venture didn’t succeed long-term, Chiquis never viewed it as a failure — it was a formative lesson in ownership, resilience, and staying true to your vision.

But what makes Chiquis so deeply relatable is that the world didn’t just watch her rise — they watched her grow up. For nearly a decade, Chiquis lived life in the public eye through reality television. From Chiquis & Raq-C to Chiquis ’n Control, from I Love Jenni to The Riveras, she opened her home, her heart, and her life to millions. It wasn’t always glamorous, and it definitely wasn’t easy. But through the chaos, the grief, and the evolution, we saw a young woman slowly come into her own — authentically and unapologetically.

With a voice as bold as her vision, she began releasing music that fused banda roots with contemporary spirit — empowering, heartfelt, and always uniquely her. In the years since, she’s earned chart-topping hits, Latin Grammy wins, and a fiercely loyal fanbase who connect with her not just because of who she is, but because of what she represents.

After the devastating loss of her mother in 2012, Chiquis could’ve retreated. Instead, she rose — carrying not just her own dreams, but the hopes of a generation of Latinas who saw themselves in her strength. She stepped into the spotlight not as someone filling her mother’s shoes, but as an artist in her own right.

Beyond music, Chiquis has emerged as an author, entrepreneur, and advocate. Her books — Forgiveness, Unstoppable, Chiquis Keto, and most recently, her first children’s book, The Girl Who Sings to Bees — invite readers into her world with unflinching honesty. Whether writing for adults or young readers, Chiquis speaks with vulnerability, truth, and a commitment to helping others find their own voice.