How J Balvin’s Mental Health Message Helped Camila Cabello Through “Intense Anxiety”

Camila Cabello shared her personal connection to J Balvin and his astronomical accomplishments in recently released TIME tribute. Keep scrolling to read her powerful words.

By Mona Thomas Sep 23, 2020 3:07 PMTags
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J Balvin and Camila Cabello bonded over more than just music. 

TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2020 was released on Sept. 22 and included the one, J Balvin. This year's honorees were presented with personalized tributes by those who felt truly impacted by their achievements and greatest accomplishments. As Cabello wrote in her message, in addition to sharing a hit single with the Grammy award-winning singer, the two Latinx artists also have cultural ties. 

"When I first met J Balvin—or José, as his family and friends know him—my family and I were already huge fans of his. We would play ‘Ginza' and ‘Ay Vamos' at all our family parties. He was already making the people all over the world dance," Camila wrote. "When I found out I was on a song with him—'Hey Ma,' my first song as a solo artist—I was so excited, but you're always nervous to meet your idols."

The former Fifth Harmony member also recalled feeling less alone during a period of "intense anxiety" when J Balvin shared his struggles with mental health on Instagram in September 2019. 

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"I remember bursting out crying because I no longer felt alone, amazed that someone who was achieving such incredible things was still vulnerable and brave enough to share that with the world," the "My Oh My" singer wrote. "If there's one thing I would love everybody to know about him, it's this: José has always been so humble, hardworking and gracious, and so constantly grateful and kind."

She later noted watching "the Prince of Reggaeton" climb the charts as one of the top artists on Spotify and YouTube— with over 42 billion streams on his songs —and how he "opened up the doors for Latino artists everywhere by making the world hear and fall in love with our culture, our sounds and our spirit."

As a major voice in the Latinx community, Camila wrote it best, "When he wins, we all win."