The artist and entrepreneur of Mexico Selena Gómez may not have paraded through the red carpet this year in Miami, but her presence illuminated the Billboard Latin Women in Music stage of the entire east coast of the United States.
Awarded with the coveted ‘Woman of the Year’ award, Gómez accepted recognition through an emotional video message from New York, where he is currently recording the last season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’.
“Thank you all in Billboard,” Gomez began with his voice full of emotion. “I wish I could be there with all of you, but I am filming in New York. This means a lot to me as Latin. I have worked most of my life and being seen, supported and celebrated by women who share our roots is really very powerful.”
Gomez reflected on his upbringing and the pride he has always felt for his Mexican heritage, pointing out the lack of representation he witnessed during his childhood. “I did not see many women like me in the center of history or on stage. Our stories, our voices and our cultures deserve to be celebrated,” he said, receiving an enthusiastic applause from the public who saw the transmission.
The pop star and actress, whose bilingual art has resonated worldwide, also remembered the pride she felt when she launched her EP in Spanish, ‘Revelation’, in 2021. “I felt that I was creating music for something I wanted to convey to my inheritance, my family and my family,” he said. “Not only gave me another opportunity to highlight my culture, but I knew that my grandmother would be very proud.”
He closed his message with a note of thanks to his faithful followers: “I will never say enough: it is thanks to you that I can do what I love. And thank you all for supporting me during all these years. Thank you from the heart. I love you all, I love you.”
The 2025 ceremony, presented by Ana Bárbara – excited with the Billboard Award – also held a cast of pioneer women. Among them: Celia Cruz (Legend Award), Olga Tañón (Trajectory Award), Belinda (Evolution Award), Natti Natasha (unstoppable artist), Anitta (Vanguardia Award), Chiquis (Impact Award) and Ha*Ash (Unbreakable Award).
The special was broadcast live on Telemundo, Universe, Peacock and the application of Telemundo, and was broadcast throughout Latin America and the Caribbean through Telemundo Internacional.
Here is Selena Gómez’s complete speech:
Thank you all in Billboard. I wish I could be with you, but I am filming in New York. This means a lot to me as Latin. I have worked most of my life and be seen, supported and celebrated by women who share our roots is really very powerful.
As a child, I felt extremely proud of my Mexican heritage. I did not see many women like me in the center of history or on stage, and it was something unusual. Our stories, our voices and our cultures deserve to be celebrated.
Speaking my EP Revelation was one of the most proud moments in my career, simply because I felt that I was creating music for something that I wanted to convey to my inheritance, my family and myself. Not only gave me another opportunity to highlight my culture, but I also knew that my grandmother would feel very proud.
And finally, to my fans, I will never get tired of telling you: thanks to you I can do what I love. And thank you all for supporting me during all these years. Thanks from the heart. I love everyone, I love you.
