Selena Gómez to Women in Latin Music: "Our Stories, Our Voices and Our Cultures Deserve to Be Celebrated"

Mexican American artist and entrepeneur Selena Gómez may not have walked the red carpet this year in Miami, but her presence lit up the Billboard Latin Women in Music stage from across the East Coast. Honored with the coveted "Woman of the Year" award, Gómez accepted the recognition via a heartfelt video message from New York, where she is currently filming the latest season of 'Only Murders in the Building'.

"Thank you so much to everyone at Billboard," Gómez began, her voice filled with emotion. "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."

Gómez reflected on her upbringing and the pride she's always felt for her Mexican heritage, noting the lack of representation she witnessed growing up. "I didn't see a lot of women who looked like me at the center of the story or onstage. Our stories, our voices and our cultures deserve to be celebrated," she said, receiving roaring applause from the crowd watching the broadcast.

The pop star and actress, whose bilingual artistry has resonated globally, also recalled the pride she felt releasing her Spanish-language EP Revelación in 2021. "It felt like I was creating music for something that I had wanted to give my heritage and my family, and for myself," she said. "Not only did it give me another opportunity to highlight my culture, but I knew it would make my abuela very proud."

She closed her message with a note of gratitude for her devoted fan base: "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."

The 2025 ceremony, hosted by Ana Bárbara — herself a former Billboard honoree — also celebrated a powerhouse lineup of trailblazing women. Among them: 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).

The special aired live on Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, and the Telemundo app, and was broadcast throughout Latin America and the Caribbean via Telemundo Internacional.

Here is Selena Gómez full speach:

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.