Selena Gomez received the Woman of the Year award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music event on Thursday (April 24).
The Texas-born star wasn’t there in person to accept the honor but expressed her gratitude in a heartfelt speech she delivered via video.
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. Previous Women of the Year honorees at Latin Women in Music include Shakira and Karol G.
Below, Selena Gomez’s full speech:
Thank you so much to everyone at Billboard. I wish I could be there with all of you, but I’m filming in New York. This means so much to me as a Latina. I have been working most of my life and to be seen, supported and celebrated by women who share our roots is truly, truly powerful.
Growing up, I was extremely proud of my Mexican heritage. I didn’t see a lot of women who looked like me at the center of the story or onstage and it was just rare. Our stories, our voices and our cultures deserve to be celebrated.
Releasing my EP Revelación was one of the proudest moments of my career only because it felt like I was creating music for something that I had wanted to give my heritage and my family, and for myself. Not only did it give me another opportunity to highlight my culture, but also I knew it would make my abuela very proud.
And finally, to my fans, I can never say it enough: It’s because of you that I’m able to do what i love. And thank you all for supporting me for all of these years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all, te amo.
Hosted by 2024 honoree Ana Bárbara, the third annual edition of the Billboard Latin Women in Music special was broadcasted live exclusively on Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, and the Telemundo app, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean via Telemundo Internacional.
The 2025 honorees also included Selena Gomez as Woman of the Year, as well as Celia Cruz (Legend Award), Olga Tañón (Lifetime Achievement Award), Belinda (Evolution Award), Natti Natasha (Unstoppable Artist Award), Anitta (Vanguard Award), Chiquis (Impact Award), and Ha*Ash (Unbreakable Award).
For the Billboard Latin Women In Music 2025 executives list, click here.
