Karol G received the woman of the year award this Thursday at the Billboard Women in Music awards, which also paid tribute to Kylie Minogue and celebrated the rise of Puerto Rican Young Miko.
“This is the most important recognition of my career. It is the first time in history that a Latina is considered the woman of the year and that is why I am going to say that for many years I was disappointed (…) But just as I I did it, all of you can do it safely too,” said the one also known as La Bichota.
Karol G received from her compatriot and friend Sofía Vergara the same award that in previous years has also awarded artists such as Taylor Swift, Madonna and Beyoncé.
“She was so humble and so nice on set that if one were not a fan of her music you would have no idea that she is a global superstar with thousands of followers on the planet,” commented Vergara, who shared the cast with the singer of ‘ Tusa’ in the series ‘Griselda’.
Karol G obtained this award just a month after having become the first woman in history to have won a US Grammy in the category of best urban music album for ‘Mañana will be nice’ and two years after Billboard Women themselves in Music would have named her a “breakthrough” artist for defying expectations with her music.
“In my mind I changed the ‘a woman can’t do it’ for ‘look at that woman how she does it,'” said the native of Medellín, Colombia, who also performed on stage a tropical version of her song ‘Amargura’ with Emily Estefan -daughter of Emilio and Gloria Estefan- on percussions.
The fourteen women in the industry honored this year were previously announced by Billboard magazine.
Kylie Minogue received the Icon award after the impact of her song ‘Padam Padam’ and for her more than four decades of career.
“I know this is just about celebrating, but since I’m here I want to give a round of applause to all those terrible moments: thank you for changing us, they are horrible at the time but what we do with them is important,” said the ‘Can ‘t Get You Out of My Head’.
Rising Puerto Rican star Young Miko took the stage to receive the Impacto award and presented her new song ‘Curita’ before receiving recognition from American rapper Saweetie. “It’s very crazy for me to be here because there are so many women who have impacted my life that it blows my mind to think that I can do the same with other people,” the rapper mentioned.
Likewise, Katy Perry made a brief appearance at the event to present the Executive of the Year award to Michelle Jubelirer, while Demi Lovato performed alongside Brazilian singer Luisa Sonza – winner of the Global Strength award – their collaboration ‘Penhasco2’.
After receiving the Power award and in a more rebellious attitude, Charlie XCX used his speech to denounce the competitiveness of the industry, while the K-Pop group New Jeans received the Group of the Year award and thanked his “bunnies” – as they call their followers – the unconditional support they received last year.
Other stars recognized this Thursday were country singer Maren Morris, the Nigerian singer of R