Ever wonder what your life would be like if you were Madonna? What if you were the "Mexican Madonna?"

On Tuesday, March 17, longtime fans and curious audiences were able to get a taste of what it was like this week at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, during the SXAméricas program where singer/songwriter Gloria Trevi participated in an in-depth and insightful Q&A for the upcoming Picturehouse film based on her life, "Gloria."

While the "Mexican Madonna" was known for her star power and edginess, she endured a tumultuous relationship with her ex-manager, which it made it difficult for her to jump on board with the project.  

"I did not want to be a part of it, especially when they were asking people like my ex-manager about my life," Trevi told Billboard, referring to music producer, composer and lover Sergio Andrade.

In 1984, the then-16-year-old Trevi met Andrade, then 28, who became her mentor. The following year, she briefly joined a girl band called Boquitas Pintadas (Little Mouths with Lipstick). From there she became a solo artist with Andrade as her manager and released her debut album "Que Hago Aqui?" ("What Am I Doing Here?") (1989), which was a huge success.

The film reportedly touches upon the more salacious elements of her much-publicized past, particularly her relationship with Andrade, with whom she was accused of leading a sex cult for minors. The couple fled to Mexico, but were arrested in Brazil  and were sentenced to a Brazilian maximum security prison on charges of kidnapping and sex abuse of young women. However, Trevi was acquitted by a Mexican court after almost five years in jail for lack of evidence. She then tried to resurrect her career with a new album and tour.

"The story of my life is not just about this scandal," she added. "It's also about a girl who had dreams."

Trevi had originally supported the Mexican production then withdrew her involvement with the film, which her reps referred to as an "unauthorized biopic." Ultimately, she realized the end goal would be valuable for herself and her fans overall.

"I watched the movie at my fans' suggestion," she admitted. "It's not easy to see your life reflected, and I personally had to understand that it's not a documentary, but a film with dramatic license. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It made me get angry. It was hard to watch, but even with all of the dramatic license it took, it's a film with a positive message."

"Gloria" is directed by Swiss newcomer Christian Keller and stars Sofía Espinosa and Marco Pérez. 

"It's hard to play me," Trevi humorously added. "I'm like a tragicomedy; I make people laugh and cry."

The acclaimed performer, songwriter and multimillion-selling recording artist "revolutionized and scandalized the contemporary Latin music business at the age of 23" also made an appearance on the red carpet in support of the U.S. premiere of the film.

How did Trevi get her start?

The Monterrey, Mexico native left home for Mexico City at the young age of 12 to pursue a career in the entertainment business. She earned money by singing and dancing in the street, teaching aerobics and working at a taco stand.

As mentioned, in the early '80s, at 16 she teamed up with her ex-manager Andrade, 28, and briefly joined a girl band called Boquitas Pintadas (Little Mouths with Lipstick) and then her career took off as a solo artist.

Influenced by British and American rock and Latin music, Trevi toured South America and the Caribbean during her early years. She also released five albums in the early '90s and starred in three Mexican box-office hit films.

Drawn to controversy, Trevi sang about issues surrounding religion, prostitution; drug trafficking, hunger, the upper class and war deaths. 

Over time, she transitioned her talents into public speaking, "covering subjects such as AIDS, abortion, drugs, sex, prostitution, and panhandling. She graced the covers of numerous magazines, was featured in TV specials, and inspired Trevi comic books."