From Venezuela to Hungary to New York City, Leanna Finol is emerging as one of the entertainment world’s most dynamic multilingual performers—blending music, musical theatre, film, television, and an unmistakably international point of view.
Leanna Finol is a Venezuelan-Hungarian singer, songwriter, actress, and musical theatre performer whose career has taken her from the stages and television screens of Venezuela and Hungary to the heart of New York City’s entertainment scene. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Hungarian, Finol represents a new generation of global artists who move effortlessly between cultures, languages, and creative disciplines.
Her story began in Venezuela, where her passion for performance surfaced at an early age. As a young performer, Finol immersed herself in vocal competitions, theatre, television, and youth arts programs, quickly establishing herself as a standout emerging talent.
In 2011, she competed in Talento Humboldt, receiving vocal training from respected music educator Salim Campos and taking home first place. She continued developing her artistry through Nace Una Estrella, while representing her school at the Festival Interinstitucional de Canciones en Inglés, where she again earned first place.
Her early credits also included performances with the youth musical ensemble Talento Juvenil, an appearance on Venezuelan television through El Talento de Todos, and the lead role in Coco El Musical. These formative experiences helped shape the versatile performer audiences would eventually see on international stages.
FROM CARACAS TO BUDAPEST
In 2018, Finol relocated to Budapest, Hungary, opening an entirely new chapter in her artistic journey.
While studying at the Károlyi Mihály Bilingual Institute, she continued performing and expanding her international network. She appeared at cultural events organized by the Instituto Cervantes in Budapest and was invited to perform as a guest artist with Mai Rumba at the internationally recognized Sziget Festival.
Finol also collaborated on vocal productions for the YouTube channel LetsGoMartin and became the lead vocalist for Caribbean Soul Duo, performing alongside professional musicians throughout Hungary.
Then came television.
In 2021, Finol stepped into the national spotlight in Hungary with an appearance on RTL Hungary’s Made in Karantén, followed by a performance on X Faktor Hungary, one of the country’s most prominent televised music competitions.
Her growing profile soon expanded beyond Hungary. Finol was featured by Humans of Hungary and appeared on the U.S.-based television program ¿Quién Tú Eres?, broadcast by LatinoMasTV.
She was also selected for mentorship opportunities associated with the Latin GRAMMY Foundation scholarship program, where she had the opportunity to collaborate with acclaimed Grammy Award-winning musician Jorge Glem.
AN INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH
Finol’s momentum continued to build.
In 2023, she received the Mara de Oro Award as International Breakthrough Venezuelan Singer of the Year, marking another major milestone in her rapidly evolving career.
The following year, she made a move that would place her directly inside one of the world’s most competitive entertainment capitals: New York City.
Finol enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), undertaking professional conservatory training in musical theatre while simultaneously expanding her work as a singer, songwriter, and actress.
New York didn’t simply become her new home. It became her next stage.
FROM CONSERVATORY TO WORLD PREMIERE
In 2025, Finol was nominated in the Independent Artist category at the Hispanic American Music Awards, recognizing her continued growth as a recording and performing artist. She also closed the awards ceremony as a lead performer and guest artist.
Soon after completing her conservatory training, Finol landed a career-defining role in Aguardiente, the world-premiere bilingual musical presented by GALA Hispanic Theatre during its landmark 50th Anniversary Season.
Finol was cast as Mamá, a principal role in the production created and directed by acclaimed Broadway performer, director, and choreographer Luis Salgado. Salgado’s impressive Broadway résumé includes In the Heights, On Your Feet!, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, along with collaborations involving internationally recognized artists such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jon M. Chu, and Karol G.
The production featured music and musical direction by internationally recognized composer Daniel Alejandro Gutiérrez, with an acclaimed creative team that also included award-winning director and choreographer Valeria Cossu and Broadway performer Ralphie Rivera De Jesús.
For Finol, the production represented more than another acting credit. She originated the principal role of Mamá in a world-premiere musical backed by an accomplished creative team—and earned individual critical attention for her performance.
In its review of Aguardiente, Metro Weekly singled Finol out as “the show’s strongest singer,” highlighting her performance of the musical number “Sofrito.”
For an artist building her career in New York, the recognition was a powerful signal: Finol had arrived.
BEYOND THE STAGE
Finol is equally determined to establish herself on camera.
She recently portrayed the lead character Xiomara in an upcoming short film directed by filmmaker Luis Ayala, expanding her résumé into screen acting and further demonstrating the range that has become a defining element of her career.
Then came another major chapter: music.
In July 2026, Finol officially stepped into the recording-artist spotlight with the worldwide release of her original single, “Volveremos a ser grandes,” distributed across major digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Inspired by the earthquakes that affected her native Venezuela, the song carries a message of resilience, hope, and national unity. More than a debut single, it represents a deeply personal introduction to Finol as a songwriter and recording artist.
THREE LANGUAGES. ONE STAGE.
Perhaps nowhere is Finol’s international identity more apparent than in her work with Broadway Abroad, a cabaret series created and directed by Lucie Tassel at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in Manhattan.
The series celebrates global performers presenting classic Broadway material in their native languages, including French, Spanish, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian, and Hebrew.
Finol made history within the New York theatre series as the first performer to sing in Spanish, Hungarian, and English during the same show.
For an artist whose life has crossed three cultures, the moment was more than a theatrical achievement. It was a reflection of who she is.
Three languages. Three cultural influences. One unmistakable artistic identity.
A NEW CONNECTION TO THE LATIN MUSIC WORLD
Finol is also expanding her presence within the Latin recording industry.
She recently appeared in the first music video from Latin recording artist Ben Ponce Romanov, professionally known as El Gringo Salsero.
Romanov is recognized for collaborations and performances alongside major names in Latin music, including Oscar D’León, J Balvin, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, Tito Nieves, Rubén Blades, La India, and Tony Succar.
Finol’s participation adds another dimension to her growing entertainment résumé, connecting her theatrical background with the energy and international reach of contemporary Latin music.
THE NEXT ACT
Leanna Finol’s career is no longer defined by a single stage, country, or language.
She has performed in Venezuela, Hungary, and the United States. She has appeared on television, competed on major music programs, performed at internationally recognized festivals, starred in musical theatre, stepped into film, released original music, and collaborated with respected names across the entertainment industry.
Now based in New York City, Finol is building a career at the intersection of Broadway, Latin music, international entertainment, film, television, and original storytelling.
Her greatest asset may be the very thing that makes her impossible to categorize: she doesn’t belong to just one entertainment world.
She moves between them.
And in an industry increasingly driven by global audiences and multilingual voices, Leanna Finol is positioning herself as an artist with something Hollywood understands instinctively—a story that travels.
The journey from Venezuela to Budapest to New York may have been the first act. The next chapter is just beginning.
Contact: originalmagazine296@gmail.com