Lesly Águila biography: a defining voice of Corazón Serrano

Few artists can say they have defined the sound of an entire generation of Peruvian cumbia, and Lesly Águila is undoubtedly one of them. From her breakthrough in 2010 with “Tu ausencia” to her position as a leading figure in Corazón Serrano, the singer from Piura became the group’s most-searched female performer. In 2026, having just turned 32, Lesly is experiencing an important moment in her life: she announced that she will leave the group in 2029 to prioritize her plans to start a family. This is her story.

This biography covers her childhood in Piura, her entry into Corazón Serrano, solo projects, romantic life, the health problems she faced in 2026 and the reasons behind her announcement that she will eventually leave the group.

Lesly Águila at a glance

Childhood and early years: a talent raised in Piura

Lesly Katerine Águila Córdova was born on June 17, 1994 in the district of Castilla, in Piura, into a modest, musical family. She showed remarkable vocal talent at an early age, encouraged by her father, who saw a future star in her. She grew up listening to San Juan cumbia and northern Peruvian cumbia, the styles that would later make her famous throughout Peru.

Her life changed radically in 2010 when, at just 15, she passed a large audition to join the celebrated group from Piura, Corazón Serrano, founded by the Guerrero Neira siblings. She joined other young voices who renewed the group, including Edita and Irma Guerrero, and her debut could hardly have gone better: she was the lead voice on the major hit “Tu ausencia”, a song that marked a turning point in recent Peruvian cumbia history and immediately made her one of the country’s most popular performers. Her distinctive voice and emotional connection with audiences made her a standard-bearer for the group.

Musical journey: from Corazón Serrano to Puro Sentimiento and back

After years of major successes with Corazón Serrano, Lesly Águila decided in 2014 to follow her own musical path, forming the group “Lesly Águila & sus Mensajeros del Amor”. During that period she met and worked with people who shaped her career, and later joined Puro Sentimiento, where she continued to find success alongside other former members of Corazón Serrano.

In 2018, to the delight of millions of fans, Lesly announced her return to Corazón Serrano, reclaiming her place as one of the most enduring and applauded voices in the group founded by the Guerrero Neira siblings. Since then she has shared the stage with new generations of singers, including Cielo Fernández, Susana Alvarado and others who joined later, becoming the veteran voice that connected the group’s evolving sound with its history.

Personal life: the singer’s relationships

Lesly Águila’s romantic life has long been followed by entertainment media. Early in her career, she dated fellow singer Frank Mendoza, with whom she had a widely covered relationship in 2014. Years later, in 2022, she was linked to musician Paolo Ayala, although the relationship did not last.

In 2026, the singer surprised fans by confirming that she was experiencing one of the happiest periods of her life. In April 2026, su pareja, Jhon Peña, a member of Corazón Serrano, publicly confirmed their relationship in an interview, prompting widespread reactions among the group’s followers. Months earlier, during a concert, Lesly had said she was in love again, fueling speculation about her partner’s identity. “I have plans for the future,” she said in April in response to rumors of a possible wedding or imminent motherhood.

Current events (2026): health, an eye condition and her planned departure

The year 2026 has been eventful for Lesly Águila. In early June, the singer worried fans when she appeared with an eye condition (redness and swelling around her right cheekbone), without giving further details about the cause; she recovered with widespread support from followers on social media.

The most-discussed news came later, in June 2026, when Lesly herself revealed, in an interview on Carlos Orozco’s podcast, the date she plans to leave Corazón Serrano: she will leave in 2029, once her contract with the group ends, rather than immediately. “I want to have a family. I have always wanted to be a mother,” she explained, describing her plan to raise a large family with her partner after that period. For now, Lesly remains active in the group.

The announcement nevertheless points toward the end of a historic chapter: Lesly was part of the group’s renewal in 2010, experienced the boom in San Juan cumbia, tried her own projects and returned in 2018, remaining active ever since. Her legacy in Corazón Serrano is undeniable: generations of fans grew up with her performances.

Before her breakthrough, the singer had performed with other groups such as La Única Tropical, and after her first period with the Guerrero siblings’ group, she founded her own project in 2014 su propio proyecto, “Lesly Águila & sus Mensajeros del Amor”, then joined Puro Sentimiento, before coming home in 2018. That journey, unusual in Peruvian cumbia, let her experience the business from every angle: as a lead singer, leader of her own group and member of other acts, strengthening her position as one of the most versatile singers of her generation.

Entertainment media reported that Lesly’s decision reflects her wish to prioritize her personal life and plans for a family in the future. Meanwhile, fans responded with widespread affection on social media, recognizing more than 15 years of musical dedication.

Facts about Lesly Águila

• She joined Corazón Serrano in 2010 at just 15, after winning a large audition in Piura.
• She was the lead voice on “Tu ausencia”, the song that made her famous and remains one of the most remembered in Peruvian cumbia.
• In 2014, she formed her own group, “Lesly Águila & sus Mensajeros del Amor”, before later joining Puro Sentimiento.
• She returned to Corazón Serrano in 2018 and, in June 2026, announced that she would leave the group in 2029, when her current contract expires, to start a family.
• Her current partner, Jhon Peña, is also a member of Corazón Serrano and confirmed their relationship in April 2026.
• She is one of the few singers of her generation to remain active onstage for more than 15 consecutive years.

Conclusion

Lesly Águila is one of the most important voices in contemporary Peruvian cumbia. Hers is the story of a young woman from Piura who reached the country through song, reinvented herself through her own projects and returned home to keep making history. In 2026, she announced that she would close a chapter of more than 15 years of music when her current contract expires in 2029, opening another of her own choosing: family and personal projects. Her legacy is already part of the history of San Juan cumbia.

Sources consulted

• Infobae: Lesly Águila announces when she will leave Corazón Serrano and explains her reasons
• La República: Lesly Águila appears with an apparent eye problem, worrying Corazón Serrano fans
• Infobae: Jhon Peña, a Corazón Serrano musician, confirms his relationship with Lesly Águila: “I have never used anyone’s fame”