Billboard Latin Women in Music

Billboard Latin Women in Music
Awarded for	"groundbreaking women who are shaping the future of Latin music"
Country	United States
Presented by	Billboard
First award	2023
Currently held by	Selena Gomez (2025 Woman of the Year)
Website	billboard.com/t/latin-women-in-music/
Television/radio coverage
Network	Telemundo

Billboard Latin Women in Music is an annual event presented by Billboard magazine for "groundbreaking women who are shaping the future of Latin music". ^[1] The event was created in 2023 as a "response to an exploding Latin music business that crossed borders and continents but was united in language and repertoire". ^[2] Since its inception, the event has been broadcast by Telemundo. ^[1]

Ana Gabriel, Emilia, Evaluna Montaner, Goyo, Thalía, and Shakira were among the first honorees at the inaugural event, with the latter being named Woman of the Year. ^[3] Karol G and Selena Gomez, who have won Woman of the Year in 2024 and 2025 respectively, ^{[4] [5]} were also named Woman of the Year at the all-genre Billboard Women in Music awards in 2024 and 2017, respectively. ^{[6] [7]}

List of honorees

Key

†	Indicates posthumous recipient

Woman of the Year Award

The Woman of the Year Award is presented to a "female artist who has demonstrated exceptional success, leadership and cultural influence in the music industry and beyond". ^[8]

List of Woman of the Year Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Shakira	Colombia	[9]
2024		Karol G	Colombia	[4]
2025		Selena Gomez	United States	[5]

Legend Award

The Legend Award is presented to artists who have left a "unique and immeasurable legacy and have significantly impacted the industry throughout their careers with their musical work". ^[10]

List of Legend Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Ana Gabriel	Mexico	[11]
2024		Gloria Estefan	Cuba United States	[4]
2025		Celia Cruz †	Cuba United States	[12]

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award recognizes "an emerging talent’s success in growing their musical prowess and solidifying their place in the industry". ^[13]

List of Rising Star Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Emilia	Argentina	[14]
2024		Kali Uchis	United States	[13]

Visionary Award

The Visionary Award is presented to an artist for "developing a sound and aesthetic that are intensely personal, are all her own, and cross genres and styles". ^[15]

List of Visionary Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		María Becerra	Argentina	[15]

Tradition and Future Award

The Tradition and Future Award is presented to an artist for "maintaining alive the musical and artistic tradition of her family". ^[16]

List of Tradition and Future Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Evaluna Montaner	Venezuela	[17]

Musical Dynasty Award

The Musical Dynasty Award is presented an artist for "continuing the legacy of an emblematic family". ^[18]

List of Musical Dynasty recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2024		Ángela Aguilar	Mexico United States	[18]

Agent of Change Award

The Agent of Change Award is presented to an artist for "shining a positive light through her music and activism on equal rights". ^[16]

List of Agent of Change Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Goyo	Colombia	[19]

Global Powerhouse Award

The Global Powerhouse Award is presented to an artist for their "indelible contributions in the Latin pop field for more than three decades". ^[20]

List of Global Powerhouse Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2023		Thalía	Mexico	[20]

Global Impact Award

The Global Impact Award is presented to an artist who has an "exceptional ability to connect with audiences worldwide, not only through their music but also by positively influencing popular culture, as well as serving as ambassadors of Latin culture on a global scale". ^[13]

List of Global Impact Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2024		Camila Cabello	United States	[13]

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an artist for their musical trajectory. ^{[21] [22]}

List of Lifetime Achieve Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2024		Ana Bárbara	Mexico	[21]
2025		Olga Tañón	Puerto Rico	[22]

Spirit of Change Award

The Spirit of Change Award is presented to an artist who "drives positive change within music, society and beyond entertainment". ^[21]

List of Spirit of Change Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2024		Kany García	Puerto Rico	[21]

Pioneer Award

The Pioneer Award is presented to an artist who "pioneered new paths, broken barriers and inspired future generations through their innovative artistry, cultural impact and enduring legacy". ^[23]

List of Pioneer Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2024		La India	Puerto Rico	[23]

Vanguard Award

The Vanguard Award is presented to an artist for their "groundbreaking contributions to Latin pop". ^[22]

List of Vanguard Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2025		Anitta	Brazil	[22]

Impact Award

The Impact Award is presented to an artist for their "extraordinary contributions to the music industry and society". ^[22]

List of Impact Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2025		Chiquis Rivera	United States	[22]

Unstoppable Artist Award

The Unstoppable Artist Award is presented to an artist for their "sustained influence in the music industry". ^[24]

List of Unstoppable Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2025		Natti Natasha	Dominican Republic	[24]

Unbreakable Award

The Unbreakable Award is presented for "collaboration between Latin women artists who have made an indelible impact on the music industry". ^[24]

List of Unbreakable Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2025		Ha*Ash	United States	[24]

Evolution Award

The Evolution Award is presented to an artist who has "demonstrated exceptional growth, transformation, and innovation throughout their artistic journey, and an enduring impact and commitment to evolving their vision and voice". ^[24]

List of Evolution Award recipients

Year	Image	Recipient	Nationality	Ref.
2025		Belinda	Mexico	[24]

See also

• Leading Ladies of Entertainment, a similar award presented by the Latin Recording Academy
• List of media awards honoring women
• Women in Latin music

References

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2. Cobo, Leila (April 14, 2025). "Latin Women in Music 2025". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 25, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
3. Cobo, Leila (April 24, 2023). "Shakira Is Billboard's First-Ever 'Latin Woman of the Year'". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
4. Zemler, Emily (May 29, 2024). "Karol G Named Woman of the Year at Annual Billboard Latin Women in Music". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
5. Civita, Alicia (April 16, 2025). "Selena Gomez: Woman of the Year at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2025 Awards". The Latin Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
6. "Karol G makes history as first Latina named woman of the year at Billboard ceremony". NBC News. March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on November 15, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
7. Saad, Nardine (December 1, 2017). "Selena Gomez, Billboard's Newly Awarded Woman of the Year, is in a Reflective Mood". The Spokesman-Review . Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
8. Flores, Griselda (April 16, 2025). "Selena Gomez to Be Honored as Woman of the Year at Billboard Latin Women in Music". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
9. Kaplan, Anna (April 24, 2023). "Shakira to be named 2023 Woman of the Year at Billboard's first Latin Women in Music event". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
10. Raygoza, Isabela (May 16, 2024). "Gloria Estefan & Ángela Aguilar to Be Honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
11. Cobo, Leila (April 28, 2023). "Ana Gabriel Shares Her Secret Power for Selling Out Arenas". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
12. Roiz, Jessica (April 15, 2025). "Celia Cruz to Receive Centennial Tribute at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2025". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
13. Ratner-Arias, Sigal (May 23, 2024). "Camila Cabello & Kali Uchis to Be Honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
14. Raygoza, Isabela (May 8, 2023). "Emilia & Ludmilla Deliver Dynamic Baile Funk Fusion at Latin Women in Music 2023". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
15. Cobo, Leila (April 25, 2023). "Maria Becerra to Receive Visionary Award at Billboard's 2023 Latin Women In Music". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
16. McQueen, Barion (April 24, 2023). "Billboard and Telemundo Announce Performers & Awards for Billboard Mujeres Latinas En La Musica". South Florida Digest. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
17. Flores, Griselda (May 8, 2023). "Evaluna Performs 'If the World Was Ending' With JP Saxe at Latin Women in Music 2023, Accepts Tradition & Future Award". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
18. Ratner-Arias, Sigal (June 10, 2024). "Ángela Aguilar Accepts Musical Dynasty Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music: 'I'm Still Trying to Find Who I Am'". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
19. Raygoza, Isabela (April 27, 2023). "Goyo Is Raising A Flag for Afro Colombian Culture". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
20. Raygoza, Isabela (May 4, 2023). "Thalia Talks Importance of Uplifting Fellow Latin Women in Music: 'Together, We Are Better'". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
21. Raygoza, Isabela (May 8, 2024). "Ana Bárbara & Kany Garcia to Be Honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
22. Raygoza, Isabela (April 2, 2025). "Olga Tañón, Anitta & Chiquis to Be Honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2025". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
23. Ratner-Arias, Sigal (June 4, 2024). "La India to Be Honored with Pioneer Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
24. Flores, Griselda (April 8, 2025). "Natti Natasha, Ha*Ash & Belinda to Be Honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2025". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.