BEST KEPT SECRET: An Interview with Lele Pons

Words by EBONY WILLIAMS

Sponsored by KOTTÉ

PHOTOGRAPHER VIKTORIJA PASHUTA @viktorija_pashuta

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Originating from Caracas, Venezuela, Lele Pons is a singer, dancer, and YouTuber who entered the scene during the Vine era—showcasing her love for physical comedy that quickly turned her into the most looped and followed influencer on the social network. Now, her slapstick humor and binge-worthy content is appreciated by dedicated fans across the globe, earning the internet sensation over 43 million followers and 17 million subscribers. As she pulls back the layers and allows us to know her on a deeper level, Pons talks about her award-winning YouTube documentary The Secret Life of Lele Pons (2020), her struggles with mental health, and her journey of evolution.

You were born in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to the states at five years old. Talk to me about your childhood and the ways in which your family and upbringing have shaped who you are today. I started talking when I was two years old. I was very late to start speaking because I wasn’t good at being verbal, but I was always great at expressions. I would paint and draw, and I love doing videos because I don’t talk. It’s all physical, which has a lot to do with how I grew up. At around seven years old my parents divorced and at I was diagnosed with OCD and Tourette Syndrome when I was nine. I was bullied in school, but I had a good life and I’m not going to complain about that. My family has always been there to support me. It’s how I was able to get through everything and how I’m able to stay positive. They were loving, caring, supportive, and always knew what to say to me.

Who have been some of your most prominent idols growing up?
Shakira. I’m obsessed with her and everything that she represents.

You are very expressive in your videos and showcase great physical comedy. You remind me of a new age Lucille Ball. I love Lucy! Literally, I love her. I love using physical comedy. It’s something you see with a lot of people from different countries because not everyone understands your language, but they understand the physical aspect of content.

Music can serve as a means of self-expression, a creative outlet, or an emotional pick-me-up. What does music mean to you—both personally and professionally?
It’s a way of expression. I like it because it’s universal and everybody can relate to it. You’ll never feel like an outsider with music. It brings people together and it allows you to make a lot of friends. I love it because it makes you feel good. There are different forms of music that make you feel so supported and not alone. Music is life.

What has been one of the most memorable concerts you’ve attended? Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour. Everything had that wow factor—the production, the way she interacted with her fans, the way she represents herself as a woman. She’s amazing

Tell me about your upcoming song. Who or what inspired it and will fans be able to get their hands on a full album soon? I have so much music coming, but I can’t say too much about it just yet. I don’t have an album yet, but I’m releasing a lot more music and doing major collaborations with big players in the industry. There’s a new artist who is only 14 years old. She writes her own music and every – thing. She’s great.

The theme of our issue is “Evolution”. With that in mind, in what ways have you evolved over the years? I evolve through my mistakes. As a person, I’m someone who is grateful for the obstacles that I’ve had in my life because they have allowed me to slow down. I used to move so fast, from one thing to another, and I didn’t care about anything. I didn’t even talk to my family and then all of a sudden, I was forced to slow down by the mistakes I made. I was able to enjoy my life, live, and be happy with myself. It’s given me time to be in the moment more. I can even see myself being a mom and getting married in the future.

In your documentary, The Secret Life of Lele Pons, you speak openly about having severe OCD, Tourette syndrome, and mental health issues. What encouraged you to open up and be so honest with the world? I felt like I needed to give an explanation and educate those who didn’t know about OCD. I knew I had to use my platform for something, but I didn’t want to talk about things I knew nothing about. I wanted to do something that touched home for me and that included OCD and Tourette’s. I wanted to show what it meant to have these disorders and how people could get help. I wanted to let people know that I was struggling too and that they weren’t alone. I wanted to give others hope.

How did you overcome being bullied and what advice do you have for those who are battling with their own mental health? People have the right to their own opinions, but they do not have the right to bully others. I’ve received really hateful comments about my looks and my craft. It even went as far as death wishes and explicit sexual and physical harm. I wouldn’t necessarily give advice, but I would encourage people to as questions: Do these people actually know you? What do the people who do know you say about you? It’s about using reverse psychology. The people who bully you don’t really know you, so it doesn’t matter.

Social media can be a great place, but it can also be very negative when it comes to the way we view ourselves. How has social media affected your mental health?
Horribly. It’s disgusting. There are so many negative comments and one comment has the power to trigger so many different people. Then you become obsessed with what people are saying and it’s not fun anymore. So many people use social media for validation—editing themselves, watching the likes and comments. When you’re on it so often, you start to not like yourself. At least that’s what happens to me. Sometimes it’s easier for me to believe what others are saying rather than fighting with them because if not, I’ll keep fighting them and that’s not the right way to go about it. It’s been years and years of this kind of negative treatment on social media.

If you can change one thing about social media, what would it be and why?
I would have someone be security on social media. If someone was getting bullied, I would have the comments taken down immediately. The “report button” doesn’t really work the way it should. If an account has a lot of reports for bullying and harassment, it should be taken down. I don’t like the “dislike” button on YouTube either. I love that Instagram hides mean words and there are settings to control that, but on Twitter, if there’s a mean comment, you can’t delete it. I would make sure social media was a safe place and get rid of anything that made someone feel bad about themselves. Social media would be a much better place if people actually gave a damn about how others felt.

You have a huge heart, your work ethic is unmatched, and you’re an inspiration to so many individuals in this world. When you reflect on all that you have accomplished, what is the one thing you want to be known for the most?
My mental health journey. I want to start a foundation and change a law. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is to have schools incorporate a mandatory class on mental health. They would teach about every disorder, every problem that people might have in their brains, how the brain works, and our chemical imbalances. There are a lot of people who may be considered the smartest in their class, but if they’re not stable, they’re not going anywhere

What is your go-to song to spark motivation?
“Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee.

Finish this sentence: In 2022 I will _.
Stop eating my nails.

Describe your personal style in three words.
Sexy, Latin, and tight.

You’re stuck in the house with one person, one electronic device, and your favorite food. What and who are they?
My boyfriend, my cell phone, and my grandma’s Tortellini’s.

Which film can you watch over and over again? Titanic.

What are you doing when you aren’t working?
Watching old movies like Schindler’s List, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and The Breakfast Club.