Global superstar Shakira will be honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year at the first-ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música or Latin Women in Music gala. The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes and honoring Latin women in music, will be taped at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6 and will air exclusively on Telemundo May 7.
Shakira Is Billboard’s First-Ever Latin Woman of the Year
A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. Superstars Ana Gabriel, Emilia, Evaluna, Goyo and Thalia will also receive special awards at the inaugural event presented by Billboard with Telemundo.
Shakira’s honor comes in the wake of an extraordinary year that has seen the superstar break records with the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022 (“Monotonía” featuring Ozuna). Then, in January 2023, her “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, making her the first woman to reach the top 10 on the chart with a song in Spanish. “Sessions” also made history as the most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history and the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with over 63 million views, and it broke 14 Guinness World Records.
“Shakira is the ultimate Woman in Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world have been empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent. She is the definition of a Woman in Music,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin / Español.
“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career. Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Woman of the Year in the industry,” said Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo.
Shakira has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling female Latin artist of all time. Her global success as a crossover artist opened doors for other Latin artists to enter international markets. She is the most-viewed Latin female artist, and one of the top 10 artists overall of all time on YouTube with over 20 billion cumulative views, and the most-streamed female Latin artist of all time on Spotify.
Aside from her stellar industry accolades, at the age of 18, Shakira created the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which has built and adapted nine public schools in Cartagena, Barranquilla, Guajira and Quibdó, with six in construction. The foundation has raised over 40 million dollars since inception and impacted more than 150,000 children and nearly 900,000 families.
The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.
Shakira will join the previously announced lineup of powerhouse women shaping the music industry. Honorees include Ana Gabriel, who will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia, who will receive the Rising Star Award; Evaluna, who will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who will receive the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award. Additional information about Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, including performers and presenters, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Here’s Shakira’s Inspiring Woman of the Year Speech at Billboard’s Latin Women in Music 2023
In her first public appearance since moving to Miami last month, Shakira gave an emotional speech to accept Billboard’s first Woman of the Year award at the inaugural Latin Women in Music gala, thanking her mother, her friends and women overall.
Shakira — dressed in a fitted short, black dress — was as sincere in her words as she’s been in her recent songs.
“It’s true that when I felt most lost, music put me in the road back to myself,” she said, speaking to over 2,000 in attendance at the May 6 gala (which aired tonight on Telemundo and Peacock), in a clear allusion to her recent public breakup with soccer star Gerard Piqué. “But the most important lessons I learned from other women, and for them I wrote what I wrote and I sang what I sang. Because only a woman can love until she’s ripped apart; can speak with the most brutal honesty; can sing with anger; dance in ecstasy and be brought to tears with emotion. Only a woman can do that.”
But it was all about celebrating the global superstar at Billboard’s Women in Music. The Colombian star has achieved new heights with the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022 (“Monotonía” featuring Ozuna) and broke 14 Guinness World Records with her “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53,” which debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, making her the first woman to reach the top 10 on the chart with a song in Spanish.
Fellow Colombian star Maluma pointed those records out when he came out to present Shakira, whom he referred to as a friend.
“I’ve seen firsthand that Shakira writes her songs from the heart and her experiences, and this year she was able to turn adversity into art, emotions and pain into music, and made history with her lyrics, creating a hit that today is a universal feminine anthem: Women don’t cry, women cash in!” he said to thunderous applause.
The standing ovation, however, was for the Woman of the Year. Read Shakira’s full acceptance speech below.
"This has been a year of seismic change in my life where I’ve felt more than ever and very personally what it is to be a women. And what it means.
It’s been a year where I’ve realized we women are stronger than we think, braver than we believed, more independent than we were taught to be.
Because what woman hasn’t at some time in her life forgotten herself because she’s seeking the attention and love of someone else?
It happened to me, more than once.
But there comes a time in the life of every woman where she no longer depends on someone else to love and accept herself just as she is.
A time when the search for someone else is replaced by the search for oneself. A time when the desire to be perfect is replaced by the desire to be authentic, and where finding someone who is faithful is less important than being faithful to ourselves.
It’s true that when I felt most lost, music put me in the road back to myself. But the most important lessons I learned from other women, and for them I wrote what I wrote and I sang what I sang. Because only a woman can love until she’s ripped apart; can speak with the most brutal honesty; can sing with anger; dance in ecstasy and be brought to tears with emotion. Only a woman can do that.
And there is one special woman who has inspired me more than anyone else: my mother, Nidya Ripoll. Mami, despite the hardships you’ve faced this year, you’re still standing with limitless love and resilience. You, mami, have been my woman of the year. So, this recognition is for you, and also for my friends who have supported me and who hold me up when my legs give out. And for all those single moms who defend and protect their children like lionesses. Claudia, I love you! You’re one of those.
I receive this honor with lots of love, but for me, more than celebrating the women of the year, we should celebrate the year of the woman. A year where us women have touched subjects that couldn’t be touched, and said things that couldn’t be said. And though some may have complained, there’s no going back. Together, we’ve taken a step forward, and with each step we’re more free and more fulfilled.
Thank you for this recognition, and I share it with those incredible women I call ‘sisters’ who have taught me so much because they understand their own vulnerability, but also their own strength."
Shakira
Shakira Accepts Billboard’s "Woman of the Year" Award in a Black Minidress with a Thigh Cutout
Shakira is the woman of the year
The singer accepted the "Mujer del Año" or "Woman of the Year" award at Billboard's Latin Women in Music event Saturday, and gave a touching speech.
"It doesn't matter so much if someone is faithful or not; what really matters is if you continue to be faithful to yourself," she said, alluding to her breakup from longtime partner and father of her children Gerard Piqué.
The two split up last year, after nearly 12 years together, following reports the professional soccer player was unfaithful. Soon after, he went public with his new girlfriend, and Shakira released three chart-topping hits about the split.
"There comes a time in every woman's life when she no longer depends on someone to love or accept herself as she is. The `search` for the other is replaced by the `search` for oneself when the desire to be perfect is replaced by the desire to be authentic," Shakira continued in her speech. "Women are much stronger than we think. We are braver than we think we are. I think we are also more independent than we were taught to be."
The "Monotonía" singer concluded her speech by saying how music has helped her get through the most difficult times in her life, including her major breakup. "When I felt most lost, it was music that put me on the path back to myself," she said.
To accept her award at the music event held at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, Shakira wore a striking little black dress. The strapless mini featured two built-in leather belts—at the top and bottom—and a big thigh cutout. The singer styled the piece with black pointed-toe heels with several buckled straps. She additionally accessorized with gold jewelry, wore natural makeup and black eyeliner, and had her hair down in waves.
Shakira honored as Woman of the Year at Billboard’s Women in Latin Music event
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