Kat is featured on the April cover issue of “Latina” magazine. Photographed by Warwick Saint at New York City’s United Palace, Kat struck a pose in a black strapless Castle Starr dress.

The “Whine Up” singer talked about being in a girl group called Coquette, being compared to Rihanna and Christina Milian, and never being in love.

On being a role model: “I try to show everyone I’m a real girl. I want them to see that you can make it places but always be yourself. I feel like I’m opening doors for the generation sort of stuck between what’s Spanish and what’s English.”

On why she thinks people compare her to Rihanna: “I guess because we’re both Caribbean girls trying to make it. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

On singing in English versus Spanish: “When I’m singing in Spanish, I feel more passionate. It’s just prettier. Sultry. But when I’m singing in English, I feel like a diva. I’m in control—let’s go get ‘em! It’s funny because you’d expect my sauciness to come from my Latina-ness, but it totally comes from the urban American girl.”

On forming her first girl group, Coquette, in high school: “I was very strict. Like, ‘We can’t be late, we’re gonna get on this diet.’ I always thought, ‘The time is gonna come, and we have to be prepared.’”

On coming up from a childhood of poverty: “I don’t ever wanna go back to feeling that hunger, or [feeling] limited, like I’ll never make it anywhere because I didn’t even have one dollar to catch the bus. This is what pushes me to go. I’d say, ‘I’m gonna sing to make money soone day I can buy my mom a house.’ It’s a dream, but in the end it becomes my savior.”

Check out the behind-the-scenes footage taken at Kat’s “Latina” photo spread here.

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