Karen Ann Cabrera (born October 5, 1995), professionally known as Karencitta, is a Filipino singer, songwriter and actress from Cebu. She gained prominence with her viral hit "Cebuana" in 2017.
Early life and education Karencitta was born in Sydney, Australia, to Filipino parents who worked as caregivers. In 2000, her family moved to Lorega, Cebu City, where she was raised. She was separated from her parents for over a decade during her childhood. She attended the CIE British School in Cebu before relocating to the United States, where she lived in various parts of Los Angeles, including Torrance and Carson. In Los Angeles, she pursued higher education and was enrolled at Penn State University, working towards a doctorate degree.
Career
Career beginnings Karencitta's foray into the entertainment industry began with small acting roles in American television series such as Grey's Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, and Superstore. She also worked various jobs in Hollywood while honing her craft as a musician and performer . Her early musical influences include Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and XXXTentacion, which shaped her eclectic style blending pop, hip-hop, and R&B.
Breakthrough with "Cebuana" In 2017, Karencitta released "Cebuana," a song that became an instant hit, garnering over a million views on YouTube within 24 hours. The track, which features a mix of English and Cebuano lyrics, pays homage to her roots and the Sinulog Festival. Produced in collaboration with Austrian producer Tc-5 and Grammy Award-winning producer Jon Ingoldsby, "Cebuana" topped Spotify Philippines' Viral 50 chart and earned her the Best Regional Recording award at the 2018 Awit Awards.
Personal life Karencitta is married to Darrell S. Caballero, with whom she collaborates on various philanthropic projects through their foundation.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes Source 2014 How to Get Away with Murder Law Student 2014 Grey's Anatomy 2015 Superstore Actress
Film Year Title Role Notes Source 2019 Indak KC Supporting role
Discography Studio albums Title DetailsCebuana Persuasion Released: 2018 Format: CD Label: VivaCITTA Released: 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Lorega Amo Records
Singles As lead artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Sales Certifications Album "Fckroun" 2017 "Cebuana" 2017 Cebuana Persuasion "No Apology (Wala Akong Paki)" 2017 Cebuana PersuasionRevirginized: Official Soundtrack "1LOVE" 2018 "BamBamBam" 2017 Cebuana Persuasion "No Apologies" 2019 "BOOM!"2023
Awards and nominations Year Work Award Category Result Source 2018 "Cebuana" Myx Music Awards 2018 Music Video of the Year 2018 New Artist of the Year 2018 Cebu Siloy Music Awards Best Song of the Year 2018 Best Vocal Performance Female 2018 Awit Awards Best Regional Recording 2019 "No Apologies" Cebu Siloy Music Awards Best Regional Recording
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