Amara La Negra

Diana Danelys De Los Santos (born October 4, 1990), known professionally as Amara La Negra, is an American singer, actress, dancer, author, and television host.[3] Diana is an Afro-Latina of Dominican descent,[5] and is most known for her role on the VH1 reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: Miami. La Negra was dubbed by Billboard as the show's "breakout star", landing a multi-album record deal with BMG hours after the show's premiere.[6]

Amara La Negra
Amara La Negra, December 2018
Background information
Birth nameDiana Danelys De Los Santos
Born (1990-10-04) October 4, 1990
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
  • dancer[2]
  • author[3]
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1994–present
Labels
  • BMG
  • Fast Life Entertainment[4]
Associated acts

Early life

De Los Santos grew up in Miami, Florida as the only child of a single mother, Ana Maria Oleaga, who immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. [7][8][9] She is Afro Latina.[10]

Career

De los Santos' started her musical career at the age of 4 on the Spanish language television program Sabado Gigante as a regular cast member. According to an interview with DJ Vlad, Diana was the only black girl on the cast[11] that the show has ever had in over 50 years.[2] After her 6-year run on Sabado Gigante, Diana became a back up dancer for major Latin artists such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.[2]

During her teenage years, Diana joined an all girl group named Amara. The group struggled to stay together and eventually split up. However, Diana wanted to keep the name Amara and added the "La Negra", meaning "black girl" in Spanish, after the question was repeatedly asked "Who's the black girl of the group?"[12]

In 2013, she released the single "Ayy" which became a hit in the Latin market.[11] However, she has experienced difficulties being accepted in the industry of her home country due to her dark skin and afro, and was even parodied in blackface on the Dominican variety show Aquí Se Habla Español by former beauty queen Geisha Montes de Oca.[13][14]

By 2015 Amara was broke and spent three months homeless, she noted that she was washing her "ass in a freaking 24-hour McDonalds and Walgreens because I was embarrassed. I was already famous. I didn’t want people to judge me or look at me in a different light because I had no money at that moment."[11]

In 2018, De Los Santos became one of the main cast members on VH1's Love & Hip-Hop Miami. Her story line explores with colorism[15] and eurocentrism within the Latin community, which has garnered significant media attention.[16][17][18] The series chronicles her attempts to crossover to the mainstream American market. In the first season, she comes into conflict with light skinned Latino producer Young Hollywood after he criticizes her afro during a business meeting.[19] In the same year, La Negra, landed a multi-album deal with BMG and then went on to release two singles, "Insecure" and "What A Bam Bam", which was the song that went on to hit the number 8 spot on Billboard's Latin Pop Digital Song Sales chart in March 2018.[20]

With the release of her debut studio album 'Unstoppable' in 2019,[21] Diana performed at numerous venues across the United States and Latin America including 2019 Hispanic Heritage Awards,[22] 2019 Premios Juventud, Premio Lo Nuestro 2019, and co-hosted on the 2019 BET Live Experience with Safaree Samuels.[23] In the same year, De Los Santos appeared as lead role in the BET movie Fall Girls[24] directed by Chris Stokes in addition to acting in the Spanish language movie Bendecidas.[25]

In 2020 De los Santos started a weekly Instagram show, where, together with her mother, she co-hosts a show called “Grind Pretty, My Mom is the Bomb” that highlights female entrepreneurs.[26] In describing the show, she noted that she defines "Grind Pretty as a great platform where women entrepreneurs, who have both small and big businesses, can come together and exchange ideas and help motivate each other and encourage collaboration.”[26] Also in 2020, De los Santos teamed with tennis superstar Serena Williams in an online campaign to promote women.[27]

In October 2020, De los Santos became the backstage correspondent on the Spanish-language competition show Tu cara me suena, airing on Univision.[28]

Personal life

In April 2019, Diana announced via Instagram that she is in a relationship with Bachata singer EmJay,[29][30] who is the brother of Love & Hip-Hop Miami co-star, Shay Johnson.

Discography

Studio albums
  • Unstoppable (2019)[21]

Singles
  • 2012 "Quítate La Ropa" featuring DJ Jim Enez
  • 2013 "Brinca La Tablita"
  • 2013 "Poron Pom Pom"
  • 2013 "Whine"
  • 2013 "Ayy"
  • 2014 "Pum Pum" featuring Musicologo The Libro
  • 2016 "Lo Que Quiero Es Beber"
  • 2016 "Se Que Soy"[1]
  • 2017 "Pa Tu Cama Ni Loca" featuring 2Nyce
  • 2018 "Dutty Wine
  • 2018 "Understanding"
  • 2018 "Don't Do It
  • 2018 "Learn from Me
  • 2018 "No Me Digas Que No" with Zawezo
  • 2018 "What A Bam Bam"
  • 2018 "Insecure"[31]
  • 2019 "Celebra" featuring Messiah
  • 2019 "Otro Amor" Remix with Miriam Cruz[32]
  • 2019 "There's No Way"
  • 2020 "Ándale" featuring Khao

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2018 BET Experience Live Herself Host
2018–present Love & Hip-Hop Miami Herself Main Cast
2018 Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood Herself 1 episode
2018 Most Expensivest Herself 1 episode
2019 Mira quién baila (season 7) Herself Contestant; 2nd Place
2019 Hip Hop Squares Panelist 2 episodes
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Sydney 1 episode
2020 Tu cara me suena Herself Backstage correspondent

Film
Year Title Role
2018 Bendecidas Katya
2019 Fall Girls Paige Davis

References
  1. "Amara La Negra on Story Behind Her Name, Dislikes 'Woman of Color' Term (Part 2)". May 12, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via YouTube.
  2. Rosario, Richy (September 20, 2018). "Amara La Negra To Release Her First Children's Book Title 'Amarita's Way'". Vibe. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  3. Jurek, Thom. "Amara La Negra – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  4. Cummings, Faith (February 21, 2018). "Amara La Negra Talks About Her Afro-Latina Identity and Hair-Care Routine". Allure. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  5. https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8085858/love-hip-hop-miami-breakout-star-amara-la-negra-lands-multi-album-record-deal
  6. Estevez, Marjua (July 31, 2017). "Dominican Singer Amara La Negra Joins 'Love & Hip Hop: Miami". Vibe. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  7. "Amara La Negra – Love & Hip Hop Miami TV Series Cast Members". VH1. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  8. Davis, Taylor (December 20, 2017). "Amara La Negra is Here to Represent For the Dark-Skinned Afro-Latinas This Season of Love & Hip Hop Miami". VH1. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  9. "Dominican star Amara La Negra joins fight against racial injustice and knows 'united we are stronger'". HOLA! USA. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  10. Pierre, Ariana Romero,Ysa Pérez,Sydney Bella Donna,Nathalie. "Amara La Negra Shouldn't Have To Educate You. But Class Is In Session". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  11. Sparks, Cassidy (May 20, 2018). "Amara La Negra uses music and dancing to make fans feel good". Rolling Out. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  12. Gonzalez, Barbara (September 26, 2016). "Former Dominican Beauty Queen Wears Blackface to Imitate Afro-Latina Singer Amara La Negra". Latina. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  13. Yomary, Tatayana (September 28, 2016). "Former 'Nuestra Belleza Latina' Beauty Queen Geisha Montes De Oca Slammed For Wearing Blackface". Latin Times. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  14. "Amara La Negra shares her experiences with colorism: 'They want someone who looks more Latina'". HOLA! USA. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  15. Marr, Madeleine (January 3, 2018). "'Love & Hip Hop Miami' premiere eclipsed by controversy – over an afro". The Miami Herald. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  16. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (January 5, 2018). "What Went Viral On Latinx Media This Week: 12/29 – 1/5". Al Día. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  17. Gray, Danielle (January 3, 2018). "Amara La Negra's Afro Criticized by Music Producer on 'Love & Hip-Hop'". Allure. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  18. "She spoke in defense of her Afro". The Miami Times. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  19. "Amara La Negra What A Bam Bam Chart History". Billboard. March 3, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  20. Malone, Chris (February 22, 2019). "Amara La Negra Is 'Unstoppable' On Debut EP". Forbes. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  21. Roiz, Jessica (October 9, 2019). "How to Watch the 2019 Hispanic Heritage Awards, Honoring Alejandro Fernandez, Residente & More". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  22. Grant, Jasmine (June 22, 2019). "Amara La Negra Twerking On Safaree is a Whole Friday Mood!". VH1. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  23. "Fall Girls (2019)". IMDb. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  24. "Bendecidas – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  25. "Amara La Negra Celebrates Moms & Female Entrepreneurs on New Web Series". Remezcla. May 10, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  26. "Amara La Negra reveals all about her exciting new project with Serena Williams and her milestone year". HOLA! USA. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  27. Univision. "Amara La Negra, pura chispa en el backstage". Univision (in Spanish). Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  28. Marr, Madeleine (April 12, 2019). "Who is Amara La Negra Dating? Bachata Singer EmJay". The Miami Herald. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  29. Cummings, Moriba. "Amara La Negra Is Reportedly Dating Her 'Love & Hip Hop: Miami' Co-Star's Brother". BET. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  30. Alcantara, Amanda (March 19, 2018). "The First Official Single From Amara La Negra's Debut Album Is Here". Remzcla. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  31. "Otro Amor (Remix) – Single by Miriam Cruz & Amara La Negra on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
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