Renowned Cuban actress Livia Brito recently unveiled that she deliberately chose to shed her Cuban accent during her teenage years in Mexico after enduring relentless teasing in high school due to her distinctive way of speaking.
In a candid discussion with Mexican host Yordi Rosado, Brito recounted the challenges she faced as "the Cuban girl" in a Mexican school, grappling with vocabulary differences that often led to awkward situations without her being aware.
One memorable incident she shared was when she told a classmate, "Come, let's 'fajarnos'." In Cuba, this means to fight, but in Mexico, it has romantic overtones. This misunderstanding sparked a wave of mockery that became a recurring theme in her school life.
"I was bullied to death because 'fajarnos' here is like fajar, and over there, it's about flirting and such, right? In Cuba, 'fajarse' means to fight," explained the actress, who was born in Ciego de Ávila on July 21, 1986, and moved to Mexico around 2000 at the age of 13.
The situation deeply affected her. "I would cry to avoid going. I told my parents I didn't want to go," she recalled.
Brito also clarified that her difficulties in making friends were not due to a standoffish attitude but rather her introverted nature: "I've always found it hard to socialize. I'm not a very sociable person."
In this context of struggle, she made a life-defining decision: "No one will know I'm Cuban unless I say it." And she stood by that resolve.
"I need to change this because I don't want to keep being treated poorly because I'm not from here," she explained regarding her decision to completely neutralize her accent even before receiving formal acting training.
The transformation was so successful that when she later joined Televisa's Center for Artistic Education (CEA), her instructors were unaware of her roots. "They would ask me... Okay, say what you just said in Cuban," she recounted, highlighting her teachers' surprise upon learning her nationality.
Yordi Rosado, who has known her for years, confirmed during the conversation, "I never once heard you speak with a Cuban tone."
Brito described the process as a period of "too much crying, too much suffering, too much not wanting to go to school," but acknowledged that the same pain propelled her to immerse herself in her studies with intense dedication.
Today, at 40, Livia Brito stands as one of the most recognized Cuban actresses in Mexican television, starring in telenovelas like La desalmada, Mujer de nadie, and Minas de pasión, all under the TelevisaUnivision banner.
Her journey in Mexico began alongside her family. Her father, Cuban actor Rolando Brito, opened a restaurant called "La Cubana" in Mexico City, where Livia worked as a waitress before making her way into acting.
The interview with Yordi Rosado, published in March 2023, has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media, reigniting public interest in the actress's personal story, which she kept silent for years about the cost of fitting in.
Understanding Livia Brito's Journey in Mexico
Why did Livia Brito decide to lose her Cuban accent?
Livia Brito chose to eliminate her Cuban accent to avoid the constant teasing and bullying she faced in high school in Mexico due to her distinctive way of speaking.
How did Livia Brito's accent change affect her career?
The change was so effective that even her acting teachers at Televisa's CEA were unaware of her Cuban roots, which helped her integrate more easily into Mexican television.
What impact did the bullying have on Livia Brito?
The bullying deeply affected Brito, causing her distress and reluctance to attend school, but it also drove her to focus intensely on her studies.