Selena Gomez was recognized as Woman of the Year at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women In Music event, although she couldn't attend due to filming commitments in New York. In her video acceptance speech, she reflected on the significance of being celebrated by fellow Latina women, highlighting her pride in her Mexican heritage and the importance of representation. Selena expressed how releasing her EP 'Revelación' was a career highlight, serving as a tribute to her cultural roots and family. She conveyed heartfelt gratitude to her fans, acknowledging their support as vital to her success. This honor follows the recent release of her album 'I Said I Love You First', a collaboration with her fiancé Benny Blanco.

Selena Gomez received the Woman of the Year award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women In Music event, but was unable to be physically present due to her busy filming schedule in New York for the fifth season of 'Only Murders in the Building'.

In her acceptance speech delivered via video, Selena expressed her deep appreciation for being acknowledged by Billboard and underscored the empowering feeling of being celebrated by women who share her Latina heritage.

She reminisced about her childhood pride in her Mexican roots, noting the rarity of seeing women who looked like her in lead roles or on stage, and emphasized the importance of celebrating their stories and cultures.

The release of her EP 'Revelación' stands out as a proud moment in her career, representing a personal endeavor to honor her heritage, family, and culture, which she believed would also make her grandmother proud.

Selena thanked her fans for their unwavering support over the years, attributing her ability to pursue her passions to their encouragement and love, while expressing her affection for them in both English and Spanish.

Her recognition at the Billboard event comes shortly after the launch of her latest album, 'I Said I Love You First', co-created with her fiancé Benny Blanco, marking another milestone in her musical journey.

Selena Gomez took the big honor at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women In Music event on Thursday night (April 24) in Miami, Fla.

The 32-year-old entertainer unfortunately was unable to attend in person as she is hard at work in New York City on the upcoming fifth season of Only Murders in the Building.

Selena was honored with Woman of the Year during the ceremony, and since she couldn’t be there in person, she sent along a video speech and the full transcript has been revealed.

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“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,” Selena said, via Billboard.

“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.”

She continued, “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,” Selena concluded. “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.”

Selena‘s latest music honor comes just a month after the release of her latest album, I Said I Love You First, a joint LP with fiancé Benny Blanco.