The Ultimate ‘Lover Boy’ Rauw Alejandro Defines His Sound and Style With Nina Garcia

Rauw Alejandro has the flavor, or at least that’s what he’s telling Nina Garcia. For the latest episode of Defining, the Puerto Rican singer joins ELLE’s editor-in-chief for a bilingual conversation surrounding fashion, family, and music. “Everything starts with the music,” Alejandro shares. “When I decide where the album is going, then I adapt the fashion to it. It’s all about music.”

Alejandro just released his album Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0, the prequel to his year-old record, Cosa Nuestra. This project takes a deeper look at the sounds Alejandro was experimenting with in his last LP, further emphasizing the juxtaposition between his roots in Puerto Rico and time spent in New York. “Cosa Nuestra was the introduction of what I was going to be doing now,” Alejandro says. “That was my plan from the beginning, and now they are ready to listen to Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0.”

Beyond his music, Alejandro received the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Award for Vision. Celebrated for his creativity and global influence, he accepted the honor last month in Washington, D.C., where he highlighted the contributions of the Latino community in the United States. He was also recently named a Prada fragrance ambassador and has solidified his place in the fashion world, frequently attending runway shows and wearing some of the most sought-after designer brands.

See this season’s final installment of Defining above, then watch our other episodes featuring Project Runway host and judge Heidi Klum, Spanish-Mexican singer Belinda, and country-pop musician Kelsea Ballerini.