We love women that do it all here at The New Potato, and singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actress, philanthropist (we could keep going) Thalía is no exception. This Latin celeb recently launched her first fashion line – Thalia Sodi – and was a voice in The Minions this summer playing Scarlett Overkill (the role Sandra Bullock voiced in English). Thalía continues to be one of the most-followed, influential Latin celebrities, so we decided to catch up with her while she was in town...
From start to finish, what would be your ideal food day?
I like to start the day with whole grain toast, eggs, tomatoes and olive oil, coffee and green juice. For lunch, I usually eat a simple salad with grilled chicken, and for dinner, some protein, grilled veggies and wild rice. As you can see, I eat pretty healthy, therefore, my ideal food day would be completely different! I would have waffles, maple syrup, bacon, eggs and orange juice in the morning, followed by a big lunch with lots of pasta and creamy sauce. For dinner, I would eat a large steak with mashed potatoes, all for me!
How do you practice beauty from the inside out?
There is no doubt that positive thinking helps! Meditation and breathing exercises are a must to keep an ideal balance between mind and soul. I surround myself with positive people who contribute to my growth and make me laugh! Also, I try my best to eat clean and healthy during the week. It makes me stay in control of my Lyme disease; I feel more focused, and I sleep better. Then, during the weekend, I feel free to "cheat" a little bit and have a glass of wine and dessert. In regards to my exercise routine, keeping active makes me feel energized! I stretch a lot, and choose workouts that I enjoy. It all comes down to balance. I do what I like and practice moderation.
What are your morning and nightly beauty routines?
I wash my face with the same cleanser in the morning and in the evening. I use La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser or Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. In the morning, I use eye cream, and face and neck serum full of antioxidants and peptides, custom made for me by my dermatologist. In the evening, I repeat the morning routine. Once a week, I apply a light glycolic gel mask for fifteen minutes or I make a simple and natural exfoliating mask with powdered milk, sugar and strawberries and leave it on for ten to fifteen minutes.
If one wanted to get more into Latin Pop, what musicians should they start with?
There are so many great Latin Pop and Latin music performers! Some of my favorites include Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Juanes, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Robi Draco Rosa, Miguel Bosé, Gloria Trevi and Marc Anthony.
Do you have a favorite Mexican dish to make? What is it and how do you make it?
I love making and eating chicken mole. It is easy to prepare. The base consists of original mole sauce made by hand with all of its many ingredients, including about eleven different chiles, nutmeg and even chocolate! Once I have the mole base I bought or prepared using a traditional Mexican recipe, I cook chicken, and when it is ready, I cover it with the hot mole. Then, I add several rings of red onion and sprinkle sesame seeds over it. The chicken mole coupled with handmade corn tortillas is a dish fit for the Gods!
What workout are you obsessed with right now?
I always practice yoga, lift weights and do cardio, but lately, I have added kickboxing to the mix. I absolutely love it! It is so much fun, and such an amazing full-body workout! At the end of every session I feel strong, empowered and invigorated. I also love to dance, especially to the rhythms of reggaeton and mambo music. Dancing makes me feel free and careless. I finish the sessions dripping in sweat and believing I did the best cardio of my life!
What foods are best and worst for your voice?
For me, the best thing to keep my voice tuned-up is water – lots and lots of it. Water is what keeps my vocal cords hydrated. On the other hand, I stay away from spicy and greasy foods because they trigger reflux that burns my vocal cords causing my voice to be raspy and not easy to control. If I will be working at the recording studio or performing live, I also avoid coffee, which is torture for me because I'm addicted to it!
Can you give us your favorite spots for Mexican food in NYC?
One of the perks of going out to eat in NYC is the amazing variety of restaurants. The great selection makes it hard for me to choose, but if I must, I would say that there is a spot called Los Tacos No.1 in Chelsea Market that I like a lot. La Esquina is very good too. I'm sure that there are other great ones in NYC, but I don't know where to find them! Could somebody tell me please?!
Where do you love to travel? What won't you travel without?
My dearest Mexico and Europe are at the top of my list. During recent summers, I have traveled with my family and friends to different places along the coast of the South of France and Italy. But, Paris holds a special place in my heart. I always try to do a stopover there for a day or two in order to enjoy coffee at a café and have dinner with my husband at one of his favorite restaurants, L'Ami Louis, and my favorite, Le Grand Véfour.
I never, ever travel without my iPhones, headphones, comfy sneakers for the plane ride, a soft, cozy cashmere scarf to keep my neck warm and accessories from the Thalia Sodi Collection at Macy's to complement my outfits. And I love to download a few audiobooks on parenting before each trip in order to learn, while on the road, a few new techniques to survive motherhood!
What's always in your bag?
In addition to phones and headphones, I keep moisturizer with SPF in my bag to reapply if I will be spending a lot of time under the sun. A small bag with makeup is a must along with my wallet – Those two are essentials! I also carry a protein bar, and hand sanitizing gel because I am a little like Howard Hughes.
What should men know about women that they don't know already?
That chivalry is never out of style. A man who is a true gentleman could be the best aphrodisiac for a woman. Many women secretly dream of a man who opens doors, pulls out your chair, sends you red roses and kisses your hand. If, to top it all off, the man is funny and entertaining, loves you the way you are and respects your life goals, you've got yourself a winning match.
The band you can't stop listening to right now...
I enjoy listening to different genres of music, although lately I have been hooked on jazz. I'm obsessed with the song "Caravan", written by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington, which I discovered while watching the movie Whiplash for the first time.
What's the best advice you've ever received? The worst?
My Mom always gave me the best advice. It is one of the things I miss the most about her. She used to tell me: "Nothing really matters, nothing is as important as it seems. Life is too short! Live without limits!"
In regards to worst advice, I remember many people told me to wait to have children, and to concentrate on my career first. That is exactly what I did, and I regret it. I should have followed my heart, and would have started having kids with Tommy as soon as we got married. I probably would have had four or five kids by now if I had done that!
If you could host a dinner party with any five people living or dead, who would be there? What would they cook?
Forget about five people, I would be happy with just one: Jesus! I would be the one cooking as many delicious things as I could, and I would sit in front of him to hear him speak and share stories and moments of peace.
*Thalía, photographed at Cosme in New York, New York City by Danielle Kosann. Thalía wears Thalia Sodi Zipper-Embellished Cowl-Neck Sweater from Thalia Sodi Collection.
