Shakira will be honored with the 2023 Woman of the Year award at Billboard’s first-ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música, or Latin Women in Music gala.
Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the two-hour anticipated affair will celebrate Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. And the historic night will take place in none other than the Watsco Center in Miami, to be taped on Saturday, May 6 and air on Sunday, May 7 on Telemundo.
“Shakira is the ultimate Woman In Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world were empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent. She is the definition of a Woman In Music,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español.
The Colombian singer and songwriter has sold over 95 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and the top-selling female Latin artist of all time.
Most recently, she made history with the release of “SHAKIRA || BZRP Music Sessions #53”, which debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first Spanish recorded track by a woman to grace the Top 10. In 24 hours, the song became the most-streamed Latin track on Spotify with 14 million streams and the most viewed on YouTube with 63 million views.
She has received numerous accolades throughout her flourishing career, including seven Billboard Music Awards, 39 Billboard Latin Music Awards, three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammy Awards. And in addition to her industry accomplishments, she established the Pies Descalzos Foundation at the age of 18, who have built nine public schools in Cartagena, Barranquilla, Guajira and Quibdó, with 6 in construction.
“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career. Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Women of the Year in the industry,” said Ronald Day, President of Entertainment and Content Strategy for Telemundo.
The inaugural music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Shakira joins a powerful lineup of previously announced honorees including: Ana Gabriel (who will receive the Living Legend Award), Emilia (Rising Star Award), Evaluna (Tradition and Future Award), Goyo (Agent of Change Award), and Thalia (Global Powerhouse Award), who are also set to perform for a historic night.
Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música is taking place a the Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Saturday, May 6. The show will air on Telemundo at 9 PM/8 CT the following day and stream simultaneously on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
For more information and tickets to attend the show live, visit BillboardMujeresEnLaMusica.com.