6 July 16-22, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Gordichii Gang La Goony Chonga’s latest single celebrates curvy Miami baddies. BY EDYSMAR DIAZ-CRUZ I nside a Westchester convenience store, croquetas are served, a colada is poured into mini plastic cups, and a group of chongalicious Miami girls turns La Goony Chonga’s newest single “Gordichii” into a celebration of every lump and curve that’s ever solicited the label “gordita.” No Latina with extra rolls around the waist, thick legs, and full arms has survived a childhood in Miami – let alone a Hispanic household – without being called some version of the word. While “gordita” or “gordichii” are terms of endear- ment, they can teeter on the fine line between playful teasing from a well-meaning tia and a backhanded jab from a petty frenemy. For La Goony Chonga, though, re- claiming words and her culture is part of the IDGAF atti- tude she and her Goonies embody in their daily aesthetic. Born and raised in the 305, La Goony Chonga has built her career serving unapologetic, ‘90s- and 2000s-bred Chonga confidence, drawing inspiration from her hometown of Westchester, where roosters rule the streets and ventanitas are the windows to the spirit of West Miami. If you’re new here or somehow missed the glorious chaos of the pre-social media 2000s, chongas are the Cuban, or Cuban-adjacent, cousin to the West Coast Chicana chola, a Miami- brewed subculture that celebrates Latina hyper- femininity with sass, confidence, and, if you’ve got it, plenty of ass. La Goony Chonga’s career has taken her from her current home base in Los Angeles to stages around the world, earning collaborations with artists such as Rosalía and Ivy Queen. In 2022, La Goony Chonga was named Best Urbano Act in New Times’ Best of Miami issue, and she hasn’t slowed down since. But for the “Gordichii” music video, she wanted to bring the spotlight back home to Miami. The singer put out a casting call on her Instagram Sto- ries for Miami baddies of all sizes to audition for a spot in her “Gordichii” gang. Within a week, she had assembled a team of girls eager to dance, act, and celebrate with Mi- ami’s most recognizable chonga. On a Sunday afternoon, the cast gathered at Depinga Café, part over-the-counter café, part smoke shop, and part convenience store inside the University C-Store across from Florida International University (FIU). Filming transformed the neighborhood business into a music video – Like, literally! Born and raised in the 305, La Goony Chonga has built her career serving unapologetic, ‘90s- and 2000s-bred Chonga confidence. Photo by Valentina Perez
