Billboard

WOMEN IN MUSIC 2023

- PHOTOGRAPH­ED BY SAMI DRASIN —LYNDSEY HAVENS

THERE’S SOMETHING magical about watching women receive what they deserve,” said Dove Cameron backstage at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event, held March 1 in Los Angeles. The singer-songwriter, who presented the Impact award to her friend Becky G, attended alongside a star-studded crowd of honorees, fellow presenters and a sold-out YouTube Theater filled with fans screaming for their favorites. And the volume in the room grew thunderous for artists like Woman of the Year SZA (whose award was presented by Coi Leray), Visionary Lana Del Rey (presented by 2022 Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo) and Icon Ivy Queen (introduced by Bad Bunny, in a surprise appearance). As the evening went on, host Quinta Brunson (creator/ star of Abbott Elementary) kept the laughs coming, while performanc­es and speeches by Breakthrou­gh act TWICE, Rising Star Doechii, Powerhouse

Latto, Rulebreake­r Lainey Wilson and Becky G were equal parts powerful and poignant. Plus, Producer of the Year Rosalía and Chartbreak­er Kim Petras celebrated a pair of firsts: Rosalía was the first recipient of her award while Petras became the first trans artist to earn a Women in Music honor. Petras danced and cheered for TWICE from her table and backstage gushed over

Del Rey, telling her, “All the cool people anywhere only listen to you.” Rodrigo hopped in a photo with TWICE, and just before leaving, Chloe Bailey ran to take a selfie with SZA. “I look up to every single woman in this room, they’re so inspiring,” SZA said, taking the night in. “I just want to do more for others so that I feel like I even deserve this.”

?? ?? SZA “It feels unbelievab­le,” said SZA of her Woman of the Year honor. “I’m just grateful that anybody saw [this] in me at all.”
SZA “It feels unbelievab­le,” said SZA of her Woman of the Year honor. “I’m just grateful that anybody saw [this] in me at all.”
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?? ?? “Being a Rulebreake­r means that I have gone against the grain and done things my way,” said Wilson. “I have a really hard time being anything other than myself.” Wilson
“Being a Rulebreake­r means that I have gone against the grain and done things my way,” said Wilson. “I have a really hard time being anything other than myself.” Wilson
?? ?? Petras Rosalía
Petras Rosalía
?? ?? Ivy Queen
Ivy Queen
?? ?? Cameron “Shout out to my team that have helped me gain the knowledge and experience to even become a Powerhouse,” said Latto. “It’s deeper than music. It’s how you use your platform and success to bring others up with you.”
Cameron “Shout out to my team that have helped me gain the knowledge and experience to even become a Powerhouse,” said Latto. “It’s deeper than music. It’s how you use your platform and success to bring others up with you.”
?? ?? Doechii “Can I curse?” asked Doechii when thinking of what her Rising Star honor means. She then declared: “It means to be the next top cunt.”
Doechii “Can I curse?” asked Doechii when thinking of what her Rising Star honor means. She then declared: “It means to be the next top cunt.”
?? ?? Del Rey
Del Rey
?? ?? Latto
Latto
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?? ?? Rodrigo “I’ve never really hosted before, and what a wonderful event for it to be,” said “It was a gut yes ... I love music and I love women. A lot of hosting gigs are a gut no.”
Rodrigo “I’ve never really hosted before, and what a wonderful event for it to be,” said “It was a gut yes ... I love music and I love women. A lot of hosting gigs are a gut no.”
?? ?? Becky G
Becky G
?? ?? Brunson
Brunson
?? ?? Leray
Leray

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