2024’s Billboard Latin Women in Music celebrated its powerful honorees and music executives at an intimate get-together at the Cardozo Hotel in Miami Beach on Friday night (June 7).
Hosted by Billboard, Loud And Live, and Only in Dade, the private celebration included star-studded guests such as Gloria Estefan, Ana Bárbara and La India, who will receive the Legend Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Pioneer Award, respectively, at the second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music awards on Sunday (June 9). Award-winning hitmaker Emilio Estefan and breakthrough salsa artist Luis Figueroa were also in attendance.
“It’s a pleasure to be here, honoring a room of extraordinary women in an extraordinary year for Latin music,” Leila Cobo, chief content officer of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español, said during her welcome speech.
“When I started at Billboard, a bit over 20 years ago, I never saw myself as an executive. I saw myself as a journalist because I was a journalist,” she continued. “It took me a long time to see myself as an executive despite the fact that I began constructing a business that didn’t exist. I realized that I didn’t see myself as an executive because there wasn’t a role model that was doing the same thing that I was trying to do, and that made me aware of the importance of having role models in this business.”
Cobo then congratulated all of the powerful women in the room, expressing that “Billboard takes great pride in shining a light on those [women] who have been ahead and giving a platform to those who are coming.”
Following Cobo’s speech, 2024 honorees La India and Estefan shared a few words, and even flaunted their beautiful friendship that has endured over the years. “You deserve this so much, you’ve been such a good, beautiful woman […] I don’t get a chance to tell her, and I want you to know that you’ve always been very supportive towards me,” the salsa singer told Estefan.
In addition to Estefan, La India and Ana Bárbara, Billboard will honor the following artists: Kany García (spirit of change award), Kali Uchis (rising star award), Ángela Aguilar (musical dynasty award), Camila Cabello (global impact award) and the woman of the year, Karol G.
The Colombian superstar, who is currently on the European leg of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, was not in town for the event but did send colorful preserved roses by Lovely Roses to gift to all of the honorees in the room.
The 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music is set to air exclusively at 9 p.m. ET on June 9 on Telemundo.