This Woman Looks Just Like Luisa In "Encanto" And Said The Character Is Helping Her Heal From Her Own Trauma
Encanto is THE movie of the moment. Same goes for its soundtrack, which is sitting comfortably at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Needless to say, people are really connecting with it. Especially with Luisa, who is Mirabel's older sister/the middle child with superhuman strength.
Many eldest children/first-gen kids saw themselves reflected in Luisa's struggle when she sang "Surface Pressure," a song about needing to support your family and everyone around you, often at the expense of your own needs.
So when Maribel Martinez (not to be confused with Mirabel) watched the film and first saw Luisa, she told BuzzFeed that it was amazing to see someone who looked like her. "I was surprised to see a masculine-yet-feminine presented female [character]...I’ve always been told I look too 'masculine' to be feminine, but seeing Luisa just made me feel comfortable with loving myself even more."
A TikTok of her lip-synching to "Surface Pressure" and flexing has been viewed over 28 million times because of the uncanny resemblance she has to the character. But for Maribel, her connection to the character goes way beyond appearance.
@maribelspiritualjourney #luisa #madrigalfamily #encanto #wholesome #bodypositivity
♬ just eldest daughter and family therapist things - persephone ⚢
She said, "Growing up as a middle child, I felt so much pressure to take care of my siblings and handle adult responsibilities. I never really had the opportunity to be just a child. I was my mom's emotional support and a role model to my younger siblings."
"I felt like I had no choice but to take on so much weight."
For many, Encanto served as a mirror, reflecting back the traumas they had endured growing up. And in that space, many found healing as well. For Maribel, she said, "As a child, I endured a lot of abuse and trauma. With that being said, I also adopted my siblings once I got old enough. It did provide healing. I realized it was okay to not always be strong, and allow myself to feel emotional without having to feel insecure with expressing myself."
@maribelspiritualjourney #answer to @vinteses #adoption #goddessenergy #mother #sister #luisa #mykids #momsoftiktok #bigsister
♬ original sound - ℂ𝕙/🥀
And if looking like Luisa and connecting with her wasn't enough, Maribel can also sing! Here she is dueting AJ Rafael's piano cover of "Surface Pressure" with her very own rendition of the song:
@maribelspiritualjourney #duet with @ajrafaelmusic #surfacepressure #encanto #lafamiliamadrigal #luisa
♬ Surface Pressure as a Sad Ballad - AJ RAFAEL
Also, you remember when Luisa moves literal boulders with her hips?
Disney
Well, we've got a clip of Maribel doing that too...without the boulders, anyway.
@maribelspiritualjourney #luisa #encanto #cosplay #surfacepressure #goddessenergy #grateful #momsoftiktok #bigsister
♬ original sound - encanto movie
And the crying?
Disney
Yep, she re-created that too.
@maribelspiritualjourney #luisa #encanto #cosplay #sometimeicry #knowmyworth #surfacepressure
♬ original sound - queeragendar