Anitta Reflects on Dreaming Big in Brazil and Breaking the ‘Rules’ of Being a Woman: ‘I Wanted to Shake My Ass. I Wanted to Be Free’

variety.com:

Anitta reflected on growing up in the Brazilian favelas and breaking the “rules” to achieve her dreams at Variety’s Power of Women Presented by Lifetime event on Thursday, held at New York’s Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

The Brazilian superstar accepted her award from Bruna Marquezine, who celebrated Anitta’s “authenticity and fiery passion for music.” “You are an agent of change — a true ambassador of our culture around the world,” Marquezine said. “You are a fearless woman who has overcome several social and cultural barriers to get where you are – opening doors for many other women in our country and serving as an inspiration and a symbol of female empowerment, courage and freedom.” In her speech, Anitta reflected on dreaming big while growing up in the favelas, where she said the people are “treated as the trash” of Brazil. “We are born believing these things are not possible for us, because we don’t have it.

There’s no structure. There’s no opportunities,” Anitta said in her speech. “Being born and raised in the ghetto of this country … we don’t have the tools that we should have to be everywhere that we dream about.” Anitta is representing the charity CUFA (Central Única das Favelas), which is based in Anitta’s hometown in Rio De Janeiro.

CUFA aims to promote a more just and poverty-free society by providing impoverished residents with non-profit educational programs and government-assisted aid.