Ángela Aguilar receives standing ovation for powerful moment dedicated to immigrants at Billboard’s Women In Music
Last Saturday night, one of Latin music’s biggest stars, the Grammy-nominated and 5x Latin Grammy-nominated artist, Ángela Aguilar made music history during one of the music industry’s biggest nights, Billboard’s Women In Music event. Ángela received the esteemed Breakthrough Award and delivered one of the night’s most astounding performances that received a tremendous standing ovation from the entire music industry. It arrives hot on the heels of another record breaking achievement for Ángela which saw her breakout hit “Qué Agonía” with beloved Mexican singer Yuridia reach a staggering 1 billion streams to date.
The event celebrated the power and impact of key female players on the global musical arena and honored some of today’s most acclaimed artists such as Erykah Badu, Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Meghan Trainor, Muni Long, Tyla, JENNIE and many more. Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony presented Ángela with her award, delivering a moving speech about Ángela’s impressive journey, colossal achievements, and profound impact on music today. As a the breakthrough artist, the award recognized Ángela’s staggering accomplishments and extraordinary influence in the Latin music arena as well as on the global music scene.
At the ceremony held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, California, Ángela delivered a breathtaking performance of the legendary Mexican folklore song “Cielito Lindo” to make a powerful statement supporting immigrants in the United States. She was joined by an LA-based youth choir, the Harmony Project, that was made up of children from underserved communities who are either undocumented or immigrants or have parents who are undocumented or immigrants. The choir wore special bandanas from the organization, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), who Ángela has been working with to support and help amplify their very crucial work of improving the lives of day laborers, migrants and low-wage workers. Additionally, they were also joined by an all-female LA-based Mariachi group, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.
It was followed by a larger-than-life and deeply moving speech from Ángela in which she spoke about her profound support of other women, female artists and those women who remain voiceless, immigrants and immigrant women. The powerful speech brought the entire stadium to their feet, roaring in amazement and all left inspired by the young talent.
All together, Ángela produced a one-in-a-lifetime moment honoring her rich Mexican roots and harnessed the power of her platform to support immigrants and those who remain voiceless today. As she has continuously broken new ground within the regional Mexican genre, she is now carving her own path as she expands onto the global arena – all while she holds her Mexican roots front and center – catapulting Mexican music and culture onto the global stage.
It’s undeniable, music history was made with Ángela cementing her rightful place in the music arena and beyond. More to come from this tremendous young phenom soon.
ÁNGELA’S SPEECH:
“Wow. This is… this is really special, this is amazing. Thank you, Billboard. Thank you to my team, my family, and most of all, to the people who have believed in me—not just when it was easy to, but when it really wasn’t. This Breakthrough Award means a lot to me because this year almost broke me.
And honestly I have had to stand on stage and sing through the tears. I have had to carry the weight of judgment, of speculation, of a story written by people who have never heard my voice. And yet—here I am. Still singing. Still standing
Because music is who I am. It’s the thread that connects me to every woman who came before me, like my grandmother, Flor Silvestre. And it has taught that these women here today are not my competition because we are each other’s legacy. It taught me we can fight, and the music speaks way louder than what other people say. To every young girl watching this, wondering if she should make herself smaller to fit someone else’s idea of who they are—don’t. This world will try to write your story for you. Don’t let them. Sing your truth. And when they tell you to be quiet, if it’s what you want, it’s truly what you want, sing even louder.
Lastly, I want to take a moment for the women whose voices are not always given a stage. For the women who leave behind everything they know, crossing borders with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear. For the immigrant women in this country who work tirelessly—building, nurturing, sacrificing—yet remain unseen, unheard, unprotected. This one is for you. I see you. I honor you. You deserve safety. Dignity. The right to dream. And if my voice, my music, or my presence on this stage can remind you that you are not invisible, then I will sing for you, every single time.
So tonight, I accept this award for every woman who has ever had to break through. For my grandmother, for my mother who was honored too late, for every woman who has paved the way and for every young girl to be able to dream.
We are not breaking down. We are breaking through.
Gracias y que viva México”
ÁNGELA’S SOCIALS: