La Tigresa del Oriente tells everything about her successes, censorship, disappointments, how much YouTube paid her for her videos and more | INTERVIEW

In a corner of her beauty salon, in La Victoria, very close to her dryers, combs, dyes and conditioners; Her trophies rest, a crown and a diploma that the Congress of the Republic awarded her, in 2021, for “her contribution to culture and support for the new generation of artists.” Juana Judith Bustos Ahuite, better known as the ‘tigress of the East‘, proudly shows us her awards, and clarifies that for a long time she has been telling her life through smiles, no longer through tears.

He was almost six decades old when he became an Internet phenomenon thanks to the video clip of his song “Nuevo Amanecer” that someone uploaded to YouTube in 2007. The most important media in the world, such as the weekly Cityfrom Venezuela, BBC Mundo and CNN, turned to see her, after the number of visits to her audiovisual proposals reached indiscriminate figures, even surpassing those of international celebrities such as Madonna and Shakira.

At the end of that same year, he signed a record contract for one year with Warner Music of Mexico, which reissued his songs and published them on the album “Duelo de Gigantes”, along with songs by Coyoacán Joe and Children Garden.

“Since I was a child I dreamed of singing and when I dared to do it, encouraged by my daughters, I never thought I would be so successful. From one moment to another, important media were looking for me to interview me, I received calls every day. From Mexico, the Warner Music content producer, Alejandro Abaroa, called me to tell me that he wanted to have my song on the album he was producing, because he thought the message was incredible.. And when I traveled to Mexico, I was received like a queen. The production of the program “Muévete” picked me up from the airport in a limousine, then they took me to a very luxurious 5-star hotel. I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing”, points out the popular ‘Queen of Youtube’.

/ Master your pride / Do not be selfish / Be more friendly / If you know how to give love / You will have a new dawn /

-How was “New Dawn” born, a song of disputed quality that managed to revolutionize the music market?

I did it alone because I didn’t want to sing covers. I started doing the lyrics addressing people who have quite a few flaws, those who say: ‘If someone loves me, let them love me as I am’. And I myself was surprised with the result, they liked it a lot and, while abroad they valued my work, in Peru the envious and frustrated, could not see an older lady fulfilling her youthful dreams. They said that she was old, that she was making a fool of herself, that she should go take care of my grandchildren.

Did you listen to those comments?

They made me angry, but they served to empower me and be able to show that age is not an obstacle to achieving dreams. I know I’m not a gold coin to please everyone, but the reviews were strong. Some television hosts also expressed themselves very badly about me.

_Do you mean Beto Ortiz?

That’s right, and I’m not afraid to say that he was very mean to me, said I was crazy, made harsh comments about me. At the time, I cried, but it’s over, I passed my triumphs on his face.

_Did you ever think about leaving everything because of the criticism?

I never paid attention to them. I would have regretted it and today I would be one more of the bunch that wanted to get ahead and couldn’t. If God is giving me physical and mental health, go ahead. I only dedicated myself to making my dreams come true, I didn’t even upload the video that brought me to fame on YouTube.

-Who uploaded it?

I don’t know who it was, I only know that from one moment to the next I began to receive invitations from radio stations and television channels. He had no idea what the Internet was, nor YouTube, he just knew about the typewriter. At that time I was working on Channel 2, I was making a prosthesis for the Carlos Álvarez program, when someone called me to tell me that he was the person who had uploaded my video clip and asked me for 6 thousand dollars not to download it. The video had at the time 14 million views. I told him that I had no money, that I had not asked him to raise it and that he could lower it if he wanted.

Did YouTube pay you for that video?

I did not receive a single sol, and I do not know if the person who uploaded it charged anything. I’ve cried enough about that, there’s nothing you can do.

-And did you earn money for other videos, such as “La Reina del Mundial,” El reggaetón del suri” (1 million visits) or “La noche y tú”?

The most I have monetized through that platform has been fifteen thousand dollars. 7 years ago I stopped charging because I separated from the company that was in charge of my account. Now less I can do it because some time ago they hacked my YouTube channel, my email and my artistic Facebook page. If I can’t get my accounts back, I’ll have to create new ones.

-Is it true that former congresswoman Leyla Chihuán asked you to remove the video “We are Chihuán” from all her virtual platforms?

He sent me a notarial letter asking me not to use his last name, I replied that he was not the only person in Peru with that last name, and that we decided to make the song because of the comment he made (he said that his salary of S/ 15,600 did not achieves). In the end, we found out that he registered the brand and made Chihuán popsicles.

Do you still have a dream to fulfill?

I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, I think I’ve done it all. I am giving myself the luxury of living from art, I have traveled all over the world, I have reached countries that I never thought I would know in my life. Currently, I can say that I am a happy and complete woman. I’ve cried a lot in my life, now I just smile. The Tigress of the East gave me everything.

-What does Judith Bustos de la Tigresa have?

Strength and power, because when I want to do something, I do it.

Have you had any cosmetic surgery?

I have not had the need to do it, I have only resorted to botox and good creams for my face.

-Did you put any condition to make the artistic nude of the anniversary edition of SOHO magazine?

I did not put conditions. They called me several times, it was my manager who encouraged me, he explained to me in that magazine only divas appear, and that I was the Queen of YouTube.

-Do you still compose songs?

After the pandemic I premiered “La tumba hombre” and “Apaga la luz”. The closest thing I have now is a tour to Mexico, I will be at the event called Duo Pride Party 2022 at the Tlatelolco Convention Center, then I travel to the United States and, later, to Europe.

-Have you thought about how you would like your farewell to the stage to be?

I haven’t thought about that, when the time comes I will. I still feel strong and energized to continue taking my art to the world. As long as God gives me life and health, I don’t intend to retire from the stage.