It’s a few hours before Kali Uchis is set to take the stage for the second of two sold-out nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden in September, and the venue is buzzing. Fans, many dressed in the artist’s merchandise or girly pink outfits, hum with anticipation. For the Colombian American powerhouse, this moment represents the culmination of a decadelong rise — from an indie darling crafting mixtapes in her Virginia bedroom to a superstar reshaping the boundaries of motherhood, biculturalism and fame.

Today, she’s moving audiences of thousands — all while raising her 1-year-old son and balancing life on the road with her partner, rapper Don Toliver. And backstage, the artist born Karly Marina Loaiza exudes the kind of tranquility of someone who’s exactly where she belongs.

Dressed in

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