Hailing from Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuelan singer-songwriter Mari “La Carajita” (María Virginia Centeno Castillo) emerged as a multifaceted artist redefining the Latin music landscape. Initially recognized through viral acoustic-pop and R&B tracks like “4 FAVORES” (2022), “MALANDRA” (2023), and “YO SOY ARTISTA, NO TU MAMÁ” (2023), Mari quickly evolved from digital buzz to broadcast prominence. A virtuoso of the cuatro and a self-taught producer, she stunned a nationwide audience in 2023 with a televised performance of the Venezuelan National Anthem at the Festival del Jonrón Pepsi in Caracas, held before 35,000 spectators—an electrifying moment that cemented her status as a cultural figurehead. In 2024, she received a Premio Lo Nuestro nomination and delivered a standout live rendition of “A.K.A.” on Univision’s magenta carpet, earning widespread media attention. That same year, she opened for Los Amigos Invisibles in Miami and performed the anthem once again, this time at LoanDepot Park, reinforcing her role as both stage presence and symbol. In early 2025, Mari released her debut EP GINIA, a genre-fluid project that blends Venezuelan folk, urban rhythms, and pop sincerity, while her standalone single “Nuevo” reached number 21 on the US Latin Pop Airplay chart.
