Lauren Jauregui talks Fifth Harmony and her Latina roots
Fifth Harmonys ascent into pop stardom continues as the all-girl act brings its headlining Reflection Tour around the country. The jaunt is in support of…
Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony performs onstage during Z100’s Jingle Ball 2013, presented by Aeropostale, at Madison Square Garden on December 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
Fifth Harmonys ascent into pop stardom continues as the all-girl act brings its headlining Reflection Tour around the country. The jaunt is in support of the outfits debut full-length Reflection, which was released last month and features latest single Worth It (featuring Kid Ink).
For our tour, we mostly drew our inspiration from the body of work that we have, Latina Lauren Jauregui told VOXXI. Because the album is called Reflection, what we have stage-wise is reflective surfaces, such as the umbrellas set up in the background. We just incorporated different elements of reflection and our choreographer made them appropriate for what the song is saying.”
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That way, we can entertain at the maximum amount, which is whats important. We want people to feel entertained and that its a huge party, because thats what were about.
Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony visits at SiriusXM Studios on June 6, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
The past couple of years have in many ways been one big party for the gold-selling pop five-piece (Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Camila Cabello and Dinah Jane), which in late 2012 went individually from eliminated solo The X Factor artists to a rising R&B-tinged act seemingly overnight.
As fast moving as Fifth Harmonys nascent beginning was, Jauregui says her story is quintessential Miami, being raised by Cuban-born parents seeking opportunity in southern Florida.
Im second generation American, Jauregui said. My mom was born in Cuba but she moved over when Fidel [Castro] first came into power. They moved here with absolutely nothing. I mostly have Cuban roots. In the house I grew up in, we spoke Spanglish. That was my first language and then when I went to school I learned English. I couldnt communicate with my grandparents unless I knew Spanish.
In fact, she said growing up in Miami requires natives to be bilingual, which she stressed was a big reason for her academic success.
I was in private school my whole life thanks to my parents sacrificing a lot, Jauregui said. My mother is a teacher and her No. 1 thing in life is education. They sowed that into me from a very young age. I think that it propelled me in a positive direction because Im bilingual, and in terms of education thats a great thing to have on your side.
Being in this world and being able to speak more than just one language and being able to communicate with a whole another realm of people, I think is a wonderful thing.
Inspired at an early age by music, her influences range from Journey and Paramore to Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, Jauregui limited her school-age performances to karaoke parties and talent shows. It wasnt until The X Factor that she took her vocal talents, which have been called mature and fiery, seriously.
Recording artists Fifth Harmony pose in the press room during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Today, Jauregui feels empowered as a successful Latina in the cutthroat pop music world.
There have been quite a few [Latino musicians] who have made a statement but for the most part there arent many, Jauregui said. Its just a really amazing feeling to be embraced by a community that you grew up in.
When its pointed out shes a Latina role model not only in Miami but nationwide, Jauregui dismissed the notion while still taking ownership.
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I dont like to say Im a role model because I feel thats sort of pretentious, Jauregui said. I feel like if anyone looks up to me because of my voice, thats an amazing feeling for me. I dont necessarily stand in the position that Im in to be a role model because I am a human, Im going to make mistakes and Im going to experience life exactly the same way everyone else does but its just Im in front of a camera.
So, for the most part, I feel amazing that people listen to what I have to say.
