Menudo Fans Have a New Star to Cheer For as Jahn Lozada Chases His Own Dream on 'Guerreros Mundiales: Garra vs Veneno'

MEXICO CITY - For many Latin music fans, the name Johnny Lozada immediately brings back memories of sold-out arenas, screaming fans and the golden era of Menudo. For the Univision audience, the memories go to a fantastic era in 'Despierta América.' Today, however, a new generation is discovering another Lozada.

Jahn Lozada, son of the beloved singer and television personality, is making his mark on Univision and Unimás' 'Garra vs. Veneno:Guerreros Mundiales,' where his athleticism, charisma and humility are quickly turning him into one of the season's most popular competitors.

Yet despite growing up around fame, Lozada insists his parents worked hard to ensure he experienced a normal childhood.

"I always thought my life was normal," he said during an interview with this reporter on the set of the reality show. "My dad always made sure of that."

That perspective began to change when he was very young and noticed strangers stopping his father in public. Family dinners often came with requests for photos and greetings from longtime Menudo fans.

"When you're eating with your family and people come over asking for pictures, that's when you realize your dad is bigger than you thought," he said with a laugh.

The realization brought pride rather than pressure. Throughout the conversation, Lozada repeatedly praised both of his parents for keeping him grounded despite growing up in the orbit of one of Latin America's biggest pop phenomena.

"My dad never missed one of my games," he said. "That's something I'll always remember. My mom was always there too. They both did an incredible job."

Now, as he competes on 'Garra vs Veneno,' those same values are helping him navigate a new chapter in front of the cameras. Lozada admitted he enjoys the competition, but says what he values most is the sense of community that comes with being part of a reality show.

"What I like most is meeting people and sharing experiences," he said. "The production team, the people behind the cameras, everybody cares. Being part of something like this makes me happy."

His competitive spirit is evident. Fellow contestant Miguel Ángel Espinoza recently described Lozada as one of the rivals he watches most closely, a compliment that the young competitor quickly returned.

"Miguel is a great competitor and a great human being," Lozada said. "We're very similar physically. He's fast, I'm fast. We have a fun rivalry."

While his immediate goal is helping his team succeed on Guerreros, Lozada admits he is already thinking about what comes next.

"I would love to be an actor," he said. "I'd love to do something in entertainment."

The ambition should come as little surprise. After all, performing is practically part of the family DNA.Still, Lozada is not interested in simply following the path created by his famous father. He wants to earn his own audience.

However, he is not above appealing directly to Menudo's loyal fan base. "If you're fans of my dad or Menudo, you should be fans of me too," he said with a cheeky smile, and his incredible charm. Judging by the growing support he is receiving from viewers, many already are.

For the generations who grew up watching Johnny Lozada perform, cheering for Jahn may feel familiar. The difference is that this time they are witnessing the beginning of a new story, one that belongs entirely to him.