I said it last year, and I'll say it again: Maluma is doing big things [1]. After his monumental year last year, the 26-year-old Colombian singer [2] is showing no signs of slowing down. Not only is he getting ready to make his feature-film debut alongside Jennifer Lopez [3] with their rom-com, Marry Me [4], but he also just made history as the first-ever male solo star to cover Elle [5]. In the February issue, Maluma sheds light on his humble beginnings, his career, and his relationships with Jennifer and Madonna [6]. Keep reading to see everything we learned about him from his historic Elle cover.
- Maluma and Jennifer Lopez [8] aren't just costars, they're real-life friends. "She is someone I admire, and she is someone I've followed since I was a little kid," Maluma said about his Marry Me costar. "So for me, being part of this movie was almost surreal. It was a big surprise when they called me, but I was ready for it."
- He and Madonna [9] worked on the video for their "Medellín" collaboration [10] for almost two days straight. "Madonna loves doing things in an organic way — she is very spiritual," he explained. "When we were doing the 'Medellín' video, it was almost 48 hours working nonstop, and I was surprised, because Madonna, she was 60 years old, but she looks like she is younger than me."
- He values spirituality over material things. "I feel like the artists right now, the modern artists, are losing their spirituality, and that's kind of sad. I don't feel like they pray or meditate, and that's why I feel connected with artists like Madonna [11], Shakira [12], and Jennifer," the singer said. "Sometimes people tell me that I'm an old soul because of that, but at the end of the day, you can be the biggest star in the world, but if you are not spiritual, you are empty inside . . . With Ricky Martin, you just feel his aura is so blue, so clear. But then you go to a music session in Miami with these guys my age, and they're talking about material things, and I'm like, 'Okay, it's nice to have a Lamborghini, it's nice to have a big Rolex, it's nice to have a huge house, but when are you going to have a big soul?'"
- Maluma comes from humble beginnings. "My family, we were not rich," he said. "We had what we needed, but then my dad lost everything, and my parents got divorced . . . It's what made me realise I had to work super hard so my family could have food and a house to live in . . . But between everything, I was a very happy child."
- He and his sister, Manuela Londoño Arias, have a special bond. "We love going to the farm, riding horses together, talking about life," the singer explained. "My sister is a psychologist, so it's beautiful having someone like that close to me. This is a crazy industry, and you always need someone who can support you and listen to you. She is like a spiritual guide."
- Maluma's love for his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, inspired his foundation, El Arte De Los Sueños [13]. "When I started my career, I wanted to help the people who were helping me, and the people helping me were these kids from the hood — they were listening to my music, they were my fans. But they were also selling drugs, carrying guns," he said. "I always say that music saved my life, saved my family's life. For me, music is everything."
- He has a tight-knit group of friends. "I don't really like having new friends," Maluma admitted. "I try to make friends in the industry, but it is very hard. Sometimes I feel like they want to be my friends, but once I show them my back, they stab me. I prefer staying safe with my friends, where I always feel comfortable. When I didn't have any money, they were there for me, inviting me to their house for lunch. They're the ones who were laughing at me, and now they are enjoying my success. That's life — just being grateful for everything that has happened."
