Natti Natasha’s romantic bachata-pop ballad style was on full display at the third edition of Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, which aired live on Thursday (April 24) on Telemundo. Dressed in an elegant white silk suit and backed by a tropical ensemble, the Dominican singer performed the heartfelt “Vendaje” from her latest album Natti Natasha en Amargue, which debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Tropical Albums chart in February. Natasha was honored with the Unstoppable Artist Award. “Thank you for allowing me to be here alive, present. Thank you to my homeland for giving me passion, flavor,” the singer said upon receiving her award. “I want to dedicate this award to the souls that are no longer with us, people who were simply celebrating life. This moment is also for you. To show that a woman can sing to the whole world,” she added, referring to the recent tragedy at the Jet Set club in the Dominican Republic that claimed hundreds of lives. She then thanked Don Omar, Becky G, Bad Bunny, and many more artists who have influenced her career, as well as her husband and daughter. “Being recognized as ‘Unstoppable’ makes me think of everything I have experienced, every obstacle I have had to overcome, every tear, every sacrifice, every time I had to be strong even though I was breaking inside,” the artist told Billboard previously. “For me, being unstoppable is loving what you do with your soul, it is getting up a thousand times even when the world tells you that you can’t. It is being a woman, it is being a mother, it is being a proud and strong Latina.” Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, hosted by 2024 honoree Ana Bárbara, airs live exclusively on Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, and the Telemundo app, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional. The 2025 honorees also include Selena Gomez as Woman of the Year, as well as Belinda (Evolution Award), Anitta (Vanguard Award), Chiquis (Impact Award), Ha*Ash (Unbreakable Award), and Celia Cruz, who on the centennial of her birth is posthumously recognized with the Legend Award and the new cover story of Billboard Español. Watch Natti Natasha on the pink carpet during the Billboard livestream here. Check out the list of 2025 Mujeres Latinas en la Música Executives and Entrepreneurs here.
The night was filled with powerful performances and inspiring speeches from some of the most influential women in Latin music. Selena Gomez, who was honored as Woman of the Year, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech, thanking her fans and the Latin community for their support throughout her career. She also spoke about the importance of representation and diversity in the music industry. “I want to thank Billboard for this incredible honor. I am so proud to be part of the Latin community and to be able to represent it in my own way,” Gomez said. “I hope to continue to use my platform to amplify the voices of other Latin artists and to bring more diversity to the industry.” Belinda, who received the Evolution Award, also used her acceptance speech to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion in the music industry. “I am so grateful to be part of a community that celebrates diversity and embraces different cultures,” she said. “I hope that we can continue to break barriers and create more opportunities for all artists, regardless of their background.” Anitta, who was honored with the Vanguard Award, gave a powerful performance of her hit song “Girl From Rio” and spoke about the challenges she has faced as a woman in the male-dominated music industry. “I am so proud to be a woman in this industry and to be able to represent my culture and my country,” she said. “But I also know that there is still a long way to go in terms of gender equality and representation. I hope that my success can inspire other women to pursue their dreams and break down barriers.” Chiquis, who received the Impact Award, gave an emotional performance of her song “La Malquerida” and spoke about the importance of using her platform to raise awareness about important issues. “I am so grateful to be able to use my voice and my music to bring attention to important causes and to make a positive impact in the world,” she said. “I hope to continue to use my platform to inspire others and to make a difference.” Ha*Ash, who received the Unbreakable Award, performed their hit song “Lo Aprendí de Ti” and spoke about the challenges they have faced as women in the music industry. “We have faced many obstacles and challenges throughout our career, but we have never let them stop us from pursuing our dreams,” they said. “We are proud to be women in this industry and we hope to inspire other women to never give up on their dreams.” The night ended with a special tribute to the late Celia Cruz, who was posthumously honored with the Legend Award. The tribute included performances of some of her most iconic songs by artists such as Gloria Estefan, Olga Tañón, and La India. “Celia Cruz was a trailblazer and a true legend in the Latin music industry,” said Billboard’s Leila Cobo. “Her music and her legacy continue to inspire generations of artists and fans. We are honored to recognize her incredible contributions to Latin music.” The third edition of Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música was a celebration of the incredible talent and achievements of women in the Latin music industry. It was a reminder that women are unstoppable and that their voices and contributions are essential to the industry’s success. As Natti Natasha said in her acceptance speech, “Being unstoppable is being a woman, being a mother, being Latina with pride and strength.” And that is something worth celebrating.