R&B/Hip-Hop

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Femme It Forward will be hosting its fourth annual Give Her FlowHERS Gala this month, Billboard can exclusively announce on Tuesday (Nov. 11).

Ciara will be honored with the Muse Award, which pays homage to a living legend whose legacy, impact and timeless music inspires past, current and future generations. Kehlani will receive the Alchemist Award, honoring a woman who turns her struggles into strength and her truth into timeless art. She is also being honored at ASCAP Women Behind the Music on Wednesday, Nov. 12. They also received two Grammy nominations when the full slate was announced last Friday (Nov. 7) for best R&B song and best R&B performance with “Folded,” Kehlani’s first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Jhené Aiko will receive the Glow Getter Award, which honors women who embody wellness, self-care and purpose. Last year, Aiko launched her holistic self-care brand Jhenetics, which includes elixirs, body balms, lotions and bath soaks that aim to “nourish the spirit and cultivate balance from the inside out,” according to its website.

Mariah the Scientist will be honored with the Bloom Award, spotlighting a breakthrough artist whose growth and grace have transformed her journey into full bloom. Mariah’s “Burning Blue” lead single from her fourth studio album Hearts Sold Separately became her highest-charting hit on the Hot 100 (No. 25) this year, while Hearts Sold Separately became her highest-charting album on the Billboard 200 (No. 11). Normani will receive the Femme It Forward Award, which honors women who have made incredible inroads within their industries and communities through impactful service and leadership. Nikki Taylor, Teyana Taylor‘s mother, will be honored with the Queens Raising Queens Award, awarded to mothers and maternal figures whose love, guidance and example empower the next generation of women to rise, thrive and lead. Teyana — who received her first Grammy nomination for best R&B album with Escape Room — accepted the Visionary Award in 2023.

Gail Mitchell, Billboard executive director of R&B and hip-hop, will be honored with the Mentor Excellence Award, which recognizes leaders who open doors and pour into the next generation through mentorship at the highest level. Sylvia Rhone, former chairwoman/CEO of Epic Records, will receive the Legacy Award, which honors visionary leaders whose groundbreaking contributions have not only shaped the entertainment industry, but built the very foundation on which future generations now stand. Rhone was the first Black industry executive and woman to chair a major record company. She was Billboard‘s Women in Music executive of the year in 2023.

“Every year, Give Her FlowHERS reminds me why this work matters. It’s about celebrating the women who show up, do the work and keep moving our culture and industry forward,” says Heather Lowery, CEO/founder of Femme It Forward, in an exclusive statement. “For me, it’s not just about honoring them, it’s about creating a space where women feel seen, supported and inspired to take up space unapologetically. This year’s honorees truly embody what it means to lead with purpose, create from the heart and pour into others while they rise.”

The 2025 Give Her FlowHERS Gala will return to the Beverly Hilton on Friday, Nov. 21. This year’s theme, “Same Root. New Flower,” celebrates the beauty of evolution, the shared roots that connect us all as woman and endless ways we continue to bloom. The gala serves as a fundraiser for Next Gem Femme, Femme It Forward’s mentorship program that’s designed to improve equity and accelerate career opportunities for women in music and entertainment. The mentorship program and gala reflect Femme It Forward’s deep commitment to cultivating a thriving ecosystem of women supporting women, rooted in community, creativity and purpose.