Chiquis Rivera on Owning Her Voice, Protecting Her Peace, and Stepping Out of the Shadow
In an intimate conversation with FIERCE, Chiquis Rivera opens up about vulnerability, self-love, creative control, and what it took to build a legacy on her own terms.
By Nicole Young.
If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and been drawn to someone who is truly themselves, you might have come across Chiquis Rivera. The Latin Grammy-winning singer is not only a force in music, but she’s also making waves in media with her honest podcast, Chiquis and Chill, where she talks openly and values vulnerability.
For Chiquis, speaking her truth is more than just part of her job—it’s her purpose. “I knew from a very young age that if I spoke up sooner rather than later, even if it was scary, I would not only start healing myself, but I could also give voice to those who perhaps stay silent out of fear of being judged,” she told FIERCE. “I believe there is power in vulnerability, so I decided to lead by example.” She leads by sharing her story on air, on stage, and in the lives of women who admire her.
How Chiquis Rivera is Breaking Through the Noise
Growing up in the spotlight isn’t easy. Chiquis faced fame early on, along with the kind of attention that can make anyone doubt themselves. But these challenges made her stronger. “Growing up in the public eye definitely wasn’t easy, but I’m grateful because it gave me thick skin,” she shares. “It molded me into the woman I am today. It gave me the opportunity to see the world for what it is, but also what it could be if I turned those painful moments into power. Power to make the world a better place, even if it is one heart at a time.”
Being watched all the time isn’t easy. One of Chiquis’ biggest challenges was finding her own identity while growing up as the daughter of the famous Jenni Rivera. “For a long time, I didn’t mind being in her shadow, but then came a time when I realized I was doing myself a disservice,” Chiquis admits. “I had to show up for myself and ignite my own light. I had to show myself that I was enough, that I was worthy of my own success, even if the world said I wasn’t.” Now, she stands confidently in her own spotlight.
Owning Your Power
Chiquis didn’t become confident overnight. Her journey took heartbreak, reflection, and time. “I learned about self-love in a very painful way,” she explains. “I had to go through a lot of heartbreak before realizing that I had to love myself first, and feel worthy of love, before expecting to be loved the way I needed and deserved.” She now shares this lesson with her listeners and fans, especially women of color who often face outside expectations.
And it’s not just about surviving the industry. For Chiquis, it’s not just about surviving in the industry—it’s about thriving while staying true to herself. She uses meditation, breathwork, prayer, and even time in the sun to keep her peace. “I learned a while back that what helps me is revolving all I do around my God, not the other way around. God is my center, and the only thing that gives me true peace,” she says. “At the end of the day, true peace comes from truly trusting and surrendering to the higher power. It reminds me, and gives me the strength to show up and show off as my authentic self.”
She began taking creative control of her music, and she truly began to feel the kind of confidence that can’t be shaken. “This newfound confidence of being unapologetically myself didn’t come to me until I learned to love and accept myself. To own it! To step into my power,” she says, referencing her empowering track Porque Soy Abeja Reina, a turning point in her career and self-perception. “Since then, it’s only gotten better.”
Chiquis has also changed how she sees her body and self-image. She no longer chases perfection and now accepts herself fully. “Each scar, every stretch mark, the dimples on my thighs make me, me. They tell a story. My story. I don’t need to be perfect to be loved and accepted,” she says. In a culture that pressures women to fit one ideal, her message is both rebellious and freeing.
Challenging Latina Norms
Chiquis’s podcast stands out for its challenge to cultural expectations. As a Latina, she knows the saying, “calladita te miras más bonita.” She chooses to turn that idea around. “Now that we’re aware of this, and the power behind using our voices—not only for our healing but for the healing of all women—we’re craving these types of conversations, even if they may be uncomfortable,” she explains. “Women were never meant to be under anyone’s shoe. We were always meant to rise, to uplift one another, to make some people uncomfortable because we’re so comfortable with who we are. The time has come, and it will only get better.”
Her words encourage Latinas to take up space in their lives and careers. Chiquis also shares practical advice for working in tough industries. “Read your contracts. Find yourself a good attorney who will explain the ins and outs of the industry. Protect your art! Find a good team and be sure to be in the driver’s seat of your career,” she advises. Most importantly: “Don’t waste your time comparing yourself, your music, your physique, your progress, or process with anyone else’s. Focus on yourself and bettering your craft as much as possible.”
The Myth of Strong Women
Chiquis also wants to challenge the idea that strong women end up alone. “People always say strong, independent, outspoken women will end up alone, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she says. “A true, strong woman knows when to be soft and with whom. We just need to feel safe, and when we do, life is more colorful in every aspect of our lives.” Strength and love can go together—they are about balance and choice.
Community, Healing, and Growth: Chiquis Rivera’s Journey
Even confident women need a community, and Chiquis is no different. “Community is everything! If I didn’t have community, I would feel alone,” she says. Having other women who are open, share their stories, and are real has helped her heal. That’s a big reason why Chiquis and Chill connects with so many. The podcast is about creating a space where women feel seen, heard, and understood.
When life feels tough, Chiquis has her own way to reset. She might dance under the sun or moon, play her favorite songs, or work up a sweat with green tea nearby. These routines help her reconnect with her power, confidence, and joy. “I feel so good and sexy after a nice sweat, but of course music is always involved!” she laughs.
Honoring Legacy While Carving Your Own Path
It hasn’t been easy for Chiquis to balance her mother Jenni Rivera’s legacy with her own path. She admits that trying to meet everyone’s expectations was overwhelming. Her turning point came when she let go and trusted her instincts. “Once I did things from the right place, everything started falling into place, slowly but surely. Soon enough, little by little, I started coming into my own. It takes time to unlearn certain things,” she reflects.
Chiquis offers advice to young women of color starting out: “Protect your art, read your contracts, ask questions, and never feel you’re too good to learn something new. Focus on yourself and your craft.” Her guidance comes from her own experiences, both the hard times and the victories, and from her willingness to speak up.
Defining Success on Her Own Terms
One thing that stands out about Chiquis Rivera is her redefinition of success. She no longer sees it as just material achievements or constant hustle. “Now I know the true meaning of success. In my opinion, success is having peace of mind. Success is not only about discovering the true meaning of life, but living it,” she says. “Sleeping with a light heart at night. Trusting that no matter what, all will work out the way it’s meant to.”
For Chiquis, real success means helping others, giving her loved ones new chances and experiences, and always being true to herself.
A Message to the Next Generation
With her podcast, music, and public presence, Chiquis is creating a guide for Latina women who want to lead with confidence. “More than anything, if Chiquis got through it, so can I,” she says with her usual mix of sass and honesty. “Keep God first, and you will always find a solution, because when you’re rooted in light, darkness could never win. You got this! We got this! We got each other.”
Chiquis wants every woman, especially women of color, to embrace their power without apology. “There is nothing more beautiful than women celebrating each other. I love it so much,” she says. Her life and work show that when women support each other, they break barriers, challenge old ideas, and create new legacies.
Unapologetic, Unfiltered, Unstoppable
Chiquis Rivera is more than a singer, daughter, or media figure—she’s a force. She’s learned that being open is a strength, that confidence takes work, and that real success is about peace, purpose, and love. By sharing her story and owning her power, she shows others how to thrive, not just survive. For the next generation of Latina women, her example is the guide they’ve been waiting for. If Chiquis can rise and shine on her own terms, so can we all.