Tears, dad and mom, emotional performances and plenty of gratitude and respect for Gloria Estefan marked Billboard’s second annual Latin Girls In Music gala on June 9 in Miami.
Produced by Telemundo, the present, which aired Sunday night time, honored revered icons of Latin music like Gloria Estefan (the Legend Award), salsa Legend La India (the Pioneer Award) and Mexican Powerhouse Ana Bárbara (Lifetime Achievement), in addition to Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García (Spirit of Change), Mexican prodigy Ángela Aguilar (Musical Dynasty), Colombian chart topper Kali Uchis (Rising Star) and this month’s Billboard cowl star, Camila Cabello (International Impression).
The present was pre-taped at Telemundo’s studios (with manufacturing headed by Cisco Suárez and Macarena Moreno) in Miami, and maybe the smaller setting, mixed with totally stay performances, gave the night a way of intimacy, collegiality and love — corny as that will sound — that isn’t often felt at massive award reveals.
“It’s an honor to honor somebody who writes her personal story,” mentioned Mexican star María José early within the night as she introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award. “Ana Bárbara is an instance of somebody who doesn’t put brakes on herself. I determine with that power and dedication with which she has chosen to be an artist, however above all, the girl she is.”
It was an evaluation that would have effectively utilized to all of the honorees within the room, all pioneers in their very own proper. Even Angela Aguilar, the youngest amongst them, at 20 years outdated, and the daughter and granddaughter of legends — Pepe Aguilar, Antonio Aguilar, Flor Silvestre — mentioned as a lot: “In between this nice legacy and this nice final identify, I’m nonetheless looking for who I’m.”
It was unusual honesty expressed many times all through the night, by the “newer” artists, but in addition the veterans. La India, emotional as a singer and as a speaker, belted “Ese Hombre” and her basic “Vivir Lo Nuestro,” then shed tears as she thanked her icons — the late Celia Cruz and the residing Gloria Estefan — and acknowledged that artists have ups and downs. Ana Bárbara, the primary honoree of the night time, admitted that when she had first visited Miami, many, a few years in the past, her dream was to fulfill Estefan, the good door-opening star that was honored with the Legend award, and who sat via all the night cheering her colleagues on.
The sentiment was echoed by García, who mentioned: “I like being amongst all these girls I so admire. The primary award present I ever went to in my life, they honored Gloria Estefan, and to see her seated right here is without doubt one of the most lovely issues on this planet.”
Dad and mom had been additionally a recurring theme of the night. Camila Cabello devoted most of her speech to her mom: “When the world is struggling […] my mother jogs my memory there’s love on this world. I like you, mother. And I like you, Gloria Estefan.”
Within the different path, Aguilar obtained heat phrases from her dad, Pepe Aguilar, who despatched her a video from Japan, the place he’s presently.
And on the shut of the night, the Lady of the Yr award for Karol G — honored in absentia as a result of she was kicking off her European tour the identical night — was picked up by her father, Guillermo Giraldo.
“Thanks, Billboard, thanks, Telemundo, for opening the door to this little woman who at 5 years outdated sang backup for this artist [Giraldo himself is an artist] who wasn’t profitable, however who as we speak picks up her recognition as Lady of the Yr.”
The night, in any case, was a celebration of doorways opening, as Billboard extends its Lady of the Yr franchise to the Latin realm.
“Thanks, Billboard, for doing this for ladies,” mentioned Ana Bárbara receiving her award. “We have now many boundaries to tear down but, however we’re doing effectively.”
