Greta Thunberg’s younger sister has carved out a public identity that looks nothing like the climate campaigner’s, and she is perfectly happy to underline the difference.
Beata MonaLisa, who performs as Bea, is a 20-year-old Stockholm-based singer, dancer and self-described “self-trained” entertainer. In a recent interview, she said she was putting the finishing touches on her first studio album, while continuing to grow an online following for theatrical, high-camp renditions of songs including Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. Her public profile now stretches beyond music, with recent coverage describing her as a model, actress, producer, writer and choreographer as well.
She is three years younger than Greta, whose activism on climate issues brought her international recognition and regular run-ins with political leaders.
While Greta became known for demonstrations, speeches and legal battles, Bea has focused her energy on music, stagecraft and a persona that embraces spectacle and intensity.
Her distinctive name is a tribute to two women in her family, taken from her grandmother Mona and great-grandmother Lisa. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Bea explained that she learned to sing on her own after losing interest in the classical music school she attended as a child, feeling more drawn to pop music.
Between the ages of 12 and 17, she spent five years portraying Edith Piaf in a stage production, something she says continues to influence the way she performs vocally.
That training fed into a breakout moment earlier this year, when a live performance recorded at Musikaliska Kvarteret, described as Sweden’s oldest music hall, quickly gained traction online.
“There was a rumour in America that it was AI,” she said.
“At first, I was offended, but then I took it as a compliment. People were fully convinced. There was a lot of hate as well.”
Bea has since said that live recording is central to how she works and that she has no interest in using pitch correction.
“I decided never to use it. I record everything live. I like it brutal and raw.”
When the conversation turned to her well-known sister, Bea made it clear she does not want her own story framed through anyone else’s fame.
“I’m not responsible for other people’s lives.”
She also discussed her connection with Sweden’s LGBTQ+ community, saying that although she does not identify as queer, much of her audience does.
Bea said that appearing at a queer event hosted by Robert Fux of Drag Race Sweden was among the most significant experiences of her career. According to her, it was the first time she truly felt recognised as an artist, and she wrote a tribute song about the evening while riding home in a taxi.
She also addressed difficulties she has encountered while working in music, particularly in studio settings.
“I have many straight male producers who tell me how to sing. They want to feel like they’ve taught me.”
“A loud, young female is very provocative, especially to them because they want to have control.”