Behind Brazilian Ludmilla’s Historic Coachella Show

Almost 11 years later, Ludmilla spoke with Refinery29 Somos over the phone as she prepared for her first-ever Coachella performance from Rio de Janeiro, where she currently lives with her wife. By performing in a festival that has inaugurated and solidified so many influential artists’ careers, Ludmilla launched herself internationally to a new public — with the approval of Queen Bey herself. She opened her set on Sunday, April 14, with an audio note from Beyoncé: “From Rio, Brazil, all the way down to Coachella… Ludmilla.” The voice of Brazilian trans activist and politician Erika Hilton followed, urging against any kind of discrimination during the performance. And like that, the pop star started her North American career with a bang.