Karina has returned to the spotlight, reshaping her career after eight editions of GH VIP. The artist steps back on stage with a Telecinco program titled I am Karina, which premiered at Teatro Bellas Artes in Madrid on January 15. The production blends music and humor while taking a reflective look at the artist’s life, acknowledging both bright moments and darker times.
Recently, Spain’s former Eurovision entrant spoke openly about financial struggles during certain periods of life in an interview with El Mundo. She recalled a time when electricity was cut off because bills could not be paid, describing the period: “I spent three or four days by candlelight, but I managed to move forward.”
Karina, saddened by what she views as a too-short retirement for performers, emphasizes the importance of reaching out for help in difficult moments: “You must talk to your parents, or in my case my daughters, so they can help cover the bills. There is always a way out.”
She also acknowledges occasional desires to work on television again: “People claimed I had retired many times. They wanted to retire me, but I kept moving. I don’t throw in the towel. Work earns respect, and facing tough times can make you stronger, as long as the adversity doesn’t last too long.”
Karina: “I was banned a lot”
In the interview with El Mundo, Karina admits feeling ignored by some record labels. “I won’t speak for my peers, because they have their own paths. They may not trust you if you aren’t currently recording or appearing on screen. You can feel invisible,” says the singer of songs such as “El bul de los memorias.”
She also reflects on the harassment she faced at the time, describing a moment of resistance when she was touched. “I chose the songs, but afterward there was always a coffee, an arm on me. I was touched frequently,” she says. “I didn’t go further, but the offense lingered.”
Karina recounts a particularly unpleasant incident with a theater and cinema producer: “The opening moment started, and she offered me a movie to expose my breasts and said she wanted to touch them.”
“I stood up immediately and left my chair. I told her she was mistaken, and I would not appear on a screen showing anything I did not want. I would not permit anyone to touch me.” She also notes that an episode at one point barred her from opportunities: “I was shut out many times because I was seen as too forward. I went with whomever I chose, not because I was close to anyone.”