Global Colombian-born music superstar Shakira will soon be honored as Billboard’s first-ever Latin Woman of the Year during its inaugural Mujeres Latina en la Música event. 

The first-of-its-kind award for Latin music celebrates Latina artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Shakira fits the bill in regard to the aforementioned description. 

Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español describes Shakira as “the ultimate Woman in Music.”

“Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world have been empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with a grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent,” said Cobo.

Throughout her career, Shakir has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, establishing herself as one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling Latina artist of all time. 

She has both global and crossover appeal as the most-viewed Latina artist and one of the top 10 artists overall of all-time on YouTube, reaching over 20 billion cumulative views. Shakira is also the most-streamed Latina artist of all-time on Spotify.

“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career,” said Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo. 

“Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Woman of the Year.

This is just the latest honor the Colombian superstar will be receiving in what has been a record-breaking year for her. 

In 2022, we saw the biggest Spanish-language debut with “Monotonia” featuring Ozuna. This past January, her “Shakira: BZRP Music Session #53” debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, making her the first woman to reach the top 10 on the chart with a Spanish-language song. 

Her “Sessions” also made history as the most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history and the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with more than 63 million views; breaking 14 Guinness World Records in the process. 

Shakira’s remarkable contributions go way beyond just her musical gifts.

At just 18 years old, she created Pies Descalzos Foundation, a nonprofit that has built and adapted nine public schools in four Colombian cities — Cartagena, her native Barranquilla, Guajira and Quibdó. Six more public schools are currently in construction.

Since it was founded, the foundation has raised more than $40 million and positively impacted more than 150,000 children and nearly 900,000 families.

Shakira is one of several Latinas who will be honored during the upcoming Latin Women in Music event.

In addition to her, Ana Gabriel will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia will receive the Rising Star Award; Evaluna will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo will receive the Agent of Change Award; and Thalía will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.

The two-hour music special will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m. ET.