4th November 2023 – (Hong Kong) Renowned Hong Kong singer, actress, TV host, and DJ, Maria Cordero, popularly known as “Fat Mama,” has once again made headlines with her outspoken views. In a recent video, she fearlessly discussed the topic of “sexual life” and boldly stated, “If you don’t need a sexual life, then you are a failed woman!”
In the video, Cordero was asked by her assistant about the correlation between a healthy marital life and a satisfying sexual life. She responded, “There is definitely a significant connection between the two! That’s why I strongly disagree with having children sleep in the middle of the bed!” Her assistant further inquired about the challenges faced by women who juggle motherhood, work commitments, and fulfilling their partner’s needs. Cordero firmly stated, “It’s not just about the husband. If you don’t need a sexual life, then you are a failed woman! Really, it’s impossible not to have such needs. If you don’t, then your marriage is already a failure! You need to find a balance. Take care of the children, spend time with friends, but as a couple, you must have your own time. Regardless of age, you need to hold hands, go on dates, because if you give up on this… If you don’t even have this need, then what kind of woman are you? You have turned yourself into a baby-making machine, a cooking machine. You’ve done it to yourself.” Cordero believes that marriage is a partnership, and communication is of utmost importance.
Maria Cordero, is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. Born in 1954 in Macao to a Macanese family of Portuguese-Chinese heritage, she later moved to Hong Kong with her family. After her father’s untimely death when she was eleven, she took on several jobs to support her siblings. Despite the legal working age in Hong Kong being 14, she used her friends’ identity cards to work as an usher in a local cinema.
While working as a hotel telephone operator, Cordero discovered her passion for the bass guitar. After auditioning, she was hired by the hotel’s resident band to perform at night. Juggling multiple responsibilities, she worked as a telephone operator during the day, played in the band at night, and also worked as a cashier. Additionally, Cordero’s exceptional cooking skills, acquired through her experience as a line cook for takeaway contractors, led her to host three food and cuisine shows.
Cordero married a Filipino pianist and bandmate who was 22 years her senior when she was in her late teens. They divorced in 1989, and she was married to Rick da Silva, a Portuguese manager for 21 years before he passed away from pneumonia in 2021. She is the mother of six children, including two from her previous marriage and four from her ex-husband’s previous marriage. Her eldest son, Alfonso Bibi Cordero, is a member of the Hong Kong Hockey Team, which won the bronze medal in the 2009 East Asian Games.
Cordero’s singing career took off after her exceptional talent was discovered at a newly opened disco in 1985. This led to recording contracts, movie roles, and stage performances. She gained fame with a series of hits, including the song “Sai Hei,” written specifically for her by director and songwriter Teddy Robin. Portions of this song were also featured in one of Edison Chen’s tracks, titled “Waste of Breath.”