What Thalia & Maria Becerra Taught Us About Mental Health at 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week

Thalia and Maria Becerra sat down for a candid conversation about mental health and fame during the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week.

During the 30-minute discussion the Mexican pop diva and Argentine artist—who in the summer took a break from social media to focus on her mental health—got up-close and personal about accountability, haters, and having a positive mindset.

Below, check out some of the best quotes from their conversation:

Thalia on the term “Mental Health”: “Honestly, it’s something new. I didn’t have this in my teenage years when you most need it. This didn’t exist, so you had to kind of like eat it up and move on. You had no choice.”

Maria on Social Media Exposure: “Social media is very important in everyone’s mental health. This exposure 24/7 and feeling the need or pressure of having to show what you are doing but on top of showing what I’m doing, it has to look nice, look aesthetic. Like you know everyone will talk about it, it’s so much exposure.”

Thalia on Being Yourself: “You go viral when you are yourself. When you are honest, when you are in the moment, you are sharing, you connect with people. When you do it to try and reach a number because a person is doing good and you want that or better and you do it in a similar way, you lose your essence and you lose your way.”

Thalia on Faith: “In terms of the Bible, I am a Christian and I love the word. It’s my strength and what keeps me going in all this madness of this world that we face every day. It’s that. Don’t bring things from the past into the present. I already forgave you, I took it from you, don’t keep on punishing yourself. Nobody should point a finger at you. Live your life in peace doing honorable things, doing things that make you grow spiritually, spreading good vibes to people who cross paths with you, in your career giving out positive things.”

Maria on Discipline: “You can be talented and do a lot of things but discipline will get you there.  It’s the hard work. Getting up after three days of work of doing three shows in a row with five hours of sleep… and you miss your family and you feel bad and you eat bad, but you are there giving your 100%. That extra you give, always giving in an extra is what makes the difference. It’s what creates excellence.”

Maria on Ignoring the Haters: “Try to put aside all this pressure that’s so big and understand that maybe it’s other people’s objections that they are projecting on me, and trying to not take things personally. Understanding that this person does not know me, it’s nothing and it will pass.”

Thalia on Finding a Support System: “You can work on your body. Working out, which is wonderful, getting oxygen, breathing, eating well, your nutrition, your water. Spiritually, keeping a line, having faith. You can work on all that but sometimes there’s an unbalance in your brain or hormonal, and you need someone to guide you and tell you it’s going to be ok. You need a support system.”