Carmen María Becomes 5th Finalist of México Canta with 'Ahí pa’ la otra'

Carmen María, a young singer-songwriter from Tijuana, won the fifth semifinal of the México Canta for Peace and Against Addictions contest with her performance of “Ahí pa’ la otra”, securing her place in the grand finale of the music competition.

The event, held on September 14, brought together representatives from the Central Region and featured a jury made up of singer Regina Orozco; songwriter América Sierra; Los Bukis keyboardist Roberto Guadarrama; musician Fernando Ribera Calderón; and singer-songwriter Vivir Quintana.

With a musical style that blends traditional and contemporary genres, Carmen María has built an independent and authentic artistic identity. Upon receiving recognition from the judges, she shared a message of inspiration for women: “Life only comes once; you must follow your heart and do everything possible to live your passion.”

She now joins the list of finalists who have already secured their spot in the last stage of the contest, among them Galia Siurob, who on September 7 was chosen as the representative of the Northern Region with her song “Por el camino de rosas.”

On that occasion, Guadarrama offered advice to the contestants: “Study, preparation, and perseverance are essential. Success comes late or early, but always at the right time God has set for each artist.”

The semifinals will continue on September 21 with the round dedicated to the Southern Region, followed by a special broadcast on September 28 featuring the highlights of the previous stages.

The grand finale will take place on October 5 at the Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris in Mexico City.

At each stage, the contest has brought together thousands of young performers of diverse genres such as mariachi, norteñas, ballads, hip hop, and corridos with messages of peace—demonstrating that music can be a powerful tool against addiction and violence.