2023 has been a year of comings and goings for Aitana. The singer has taken the music by storm: she has become the fourth most listened to female artist in Spain (13 million monthly listeners on Spotify), she has been nominated in six categories at the LOS40 Music Awards, and she has sold out in three days for his Alpha Tour show at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Even so, she has also been subjected to a year of ups and downs on a personal level: her breakup with Sebastián Yatra, the controversy over her dancing and the criticism about her physique have also weighed on the Catalan.
Aitana started the year ready to fight all those who tried to sink her. After her separation from Miguel Bernardeu, the artist decided to enjoy Christmas in London with her friends, among whom was Sebastián Yatra. Rumors about her possible relationship have already begun to brew, although the one from Sant Climent was involved in a racist and homophobic controversy after some false messages were attributed to her on the networks. The singer began the year by launching a clear dart: “My wishes for 2023 have no exceptions, I wish it to everyone, and also to those who try to use my image to promote hatred.”
Shortly after, Aitana mourned the death of Elena Huelva. The young influencer died at the age of 20 due to Ewing sarcoma that was diagnosed at the age of 16. They maintained a very close relationship, so much so that the artist dedicated a post to her on Instagram on the day of her death, January 3: ” “My girl, your desire always won. Elena, what an example of strength you always gave us all. A new star shines in the sky, more than any. I love you.” Aitana did not want to forget about Elena during her 2023 tour, and the artist dedicated the song to her during her time in Seville, the young woman’s hometown.
As the first months of the year progressed, the rumors of her relationship with Sebastián Yatra grew. Since her breakup with Miguel Bernardeau, the Colombian became one of Aitana’s greatest supporters. Even so, her complicity dates back to 2018, when they met on the Operación Triunfo program, and her good harmony has been the subject of speculation since then. Although Yatra does not usually give explanations about his private life, the singer winked at the Catalan during his promotional stint at El Hormiguero: “Aitana is the best.” Two weeks later, the artist stopped by the Atresmedia set to promote her Alpha Tour, but she did not want to talk about Yatra.
Even so, everything seemed to indicate that Aitana’s musical career was advancing parallel to her love life. She released the song Los Angeles on March 30, the city where she went to enjoy a getaway with Yatra, and was nominated for the “Best Song” category at the LOS40 Music Awards for it. However, she won the “Best video clip” category for Las Babys, her particular hit of the summer: the song seems like a sampler of Whigfield’s legendary Saturday Night (1995).
Rumors about the alleged relationship between Yatra and Aitana skyrocketed during the summer when the Colombian released his song Vagabundo. The artists uploaded a video to TikTok enjoying the song, and set social networks on fire for the verse they chose for the moment. “I know I’m not your boyfriend, but I obviously love you,” was the phrase that caused the stir. Shortly after, the couple was photographed having their first kiss in public during their vacation in Ibiza, and it became a clear sign of their obvious romantic relationship.
After a very successful start to the year on a professional level, Aitana chained a spiral of media commotion due to a change in the Alpha Tour choreographies. The singer wanted to leave behind the good girl image that characterized her since she rose to fame with Operación Triunfo to embrace a new, completely different style: she did not hesitate to include sensual movements in her show, maintaining a lot of contact with the her dancers. The change of show divided the networks, and Ocaña was visibly affected by the criticism. The change was linked to her evolution as an artist: “There is a more mature Aitana,” she explained to Europa Press. She wanted to settle the issue at her next concert: “Always do what you want.”
As if it were not enough to receive negative comments for her album, Aitana began to receive them for her appearance. The singer gave an interview to Vogue magazine, and an image of her went viral in which she appeared with her bangs tied up while her makeup was being done. For the artist, appearing without bangs has always been a challenge, since she was an object of ridicule during her childhood. She wanted to nip the issue in the bud and spoke out publicly: “An edited image of mine is being manipulated, I recommend that if you are going to judge something, it should be something real.” “They bullied me at school for that and from there a great insecurity was created in me,” she stated.
That same week Sebastián Yatra confirmed his breakup with Aitana. “Right now we are both single, each of us lives his own life, but I love her very much and we have lived a very beautiful story this year.” The chemistry between the two artists transcends beyond their romantic relationship: “We love each other very much. We are and will be great friends in life.” Ocaña was visibly affected in the middle of the concert in Bogotá, when she burst into tears and expressed that she was not feeling well emotionally: “It’s okay, because there are days when I’m fine and there are days when I’m better.” Upon landing in Barcelona she met the media with a smile, and when she was asked about her ex-partner, she responded: “He will continue to be my best friend.”
The artist from Sant Climent del Llobregat welcomed 2023 with a getaway to London, and after having overcome a difficult period on a personal and professional level, she also wants to close the year away. Aitana expressed to her followers that it is the first year that she does not want to disconnect: “I just want to be with you and not be in my house.” Despite ending the year sad, she is happy to “know that I am starting 2024 knowing that I am going to be surrounded by those I love most and among them you are undoubtedly, so thank you and have a great time.”
The performer has already advanced some of her plans for 2024. She has several festivals planned in Spain and Latin America, as well as visiting the new Santiago Bernabéu with her Alpha Tour. Aitana sold out in three days for her concert on December 28, and will be the first Spaniard to perform at the Merengue stadium with a capacity for 65,000 people, a stage where world-class singers such as Taylor Swift or Karol G will perform.
The singer stopped by Charlando Tranquilamente, Ibai Llanos’ Twitch interview space, in which she confirmed that she will release “three or four songs” before the macro concert in Madrid. In addition, she returns to acting as the protagonist of the film Behind the Wall, a romantic comedy that will be released on Netflix.
