KAROL G descends a grand staircase, her black Nike track pants swishing with every step. Her hair is a faded red. Her sneakers are mall-chic DCs. And tonight's take-out feast set out before us, the bandeja paisa-a beloved local specialty of Colombia's Antioquia region, a carnivorous spread typically featuring chicharrón, rice, beans, ground beef, sausages, plantain, a fried egg, avocado, arepas-is not quite up to her standards.
"The presentation is beautiful and it looks incredible, but it doesn't taste the same," she says with a sigh.
Seconds later, Karol-real name Carolina Giraldo Navarro-has moved on, swanning through the kitchen of her palatial Hollywood Hills rental with the air of a consummate host. At 32, the Colombian reggaeton star is one of a handful of women to go mainstream and flourish in a genre that has long been a boys' club. She's succeeding on her own terms, making hits that are both tenacious and tender, dancy and emo. For her fans, few contemporary artists can soothe a broken heart under the restorative shimmer of a disco ball quite like her.
Karol flounces around the marble countertop, where she's joined by her publicist, assistant, personal trainer, makeup artist, and two close friends from home. Other pals periodically flit in through the high-ceilinged manse. "Buen provecho," she tells me. "What do you want to drink? I'll get you something." She flings open the steel refrigerator, revealing soft drinks, various types of water, and energy drinks lined up in neat rows. "I'm not sure if you want a little wine, water, Red Bull-"
Suddenly she lets out a sharp, audible gasp. "Do you like cheese arepas?!"
"Of course," I say.
"I can make you a cheese arepa that's part of my secret recipe!" Karol beams, taking matters into her own hands. She unloads a tub of Kerrygold butter and sliced mozzarella. "Get ready to taste the best arepa de queso in your motherfucking life!"
Denne historien er fra April - May 2023-utgaven av GQ India.
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Denne historien er fra April - May 2023-utgaven av GQ India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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In Haider We Hope
The role of a fashion designer is one usually forged in chaos and fired down by “creative differences”. But on the eve of a new Tom Ford directorship, Haider Ackermann has never felt more free.
VIVA VARUN
Varun Dhawan on balancing fatherhood and film shoots, and the pressure of making the right choices.
PRATIK GANDHI'S QUIET EUPHORIA
The actor―who delivered a knockout performance in Madgaon Expresson the high of a hit and the pressure of sustaining success.
THE COMEBACK KID
Buoyed by his performance in Singham Returns, Arjun Kapoor doubles down on creativity.
SCRIPTING STARDOM
Vicky Kaushal on the thrill and terror of stepping onto a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set, charting an unconventional career, and making sense of the money game.
A TRYST WITH STARDOM
Triptii Dimri segued from her left-field roots straight to the animal park. The gamble has paid off.
WALKING A TIGHTROPE
Following the monster success of Stree 2, Rajkummar Rao opens up about navigating artistic fulfilment and box-office glory.
THE MAHARAJA OF MEHRAULI
It's been an action-packed year for Tarun Tahiliani, the emperor of Indian couture.
LONE WARRIOR
Kartik Aaryan on why, in an industry that only watches out for its own, he has to blow his own trumpet.
HITS AND HEARTBREAKS
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali talks about redeeming himself with the extraordinary Chamkila, dealing with star-studded setbacks, and why we've forgotten to make love stories.
