Women’s History Month
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As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we’re highlighting some of the women-owned small businesses that should be on your radar.
According to a recent report, female-owned businesses make up 39 percent of all businesses in the U.S., bringing in a reported $2.1 trillion. Additionally, the number of women-owned businesses doubled compared to male-owned businesses between 2019 and 2023 and more than quadrupled between 2022 and 2023.
The future is female. See below for a list of women-owned and female-founded beauty and fashion brands to shop.
Yensa Beauty
Former Power Rangers actress Jennifer Yen’s Yensa Beauty brings “superfood science” to your beauty routine.
Trending on Billboard
The beauty brand carries a range of high-performance complexion cosmetics and skincare products each infused with eight superfoods to help nourish and improve your skin over time.
Yensa Beauty
Yensa Beauty Super Serum Silk Foundation
Nodpod
Nodpod founder and CEO Melissa Bamberg is passionate about “helping people feel their best every day,” and sleep plays a big part in that.
Nodpod’s Pressure Blocking Sleep Mask offers the comfort of a “weighted blanket for your eyes” or a “hug for your brain,” per the product description, and it’s a bestseller at Amazon with over 2,000 sold in the last month.
Amazon
Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask
The lightweight, sleep mask is made of soft silk and velvet and filled with beads that apply slight pressure to your eyes for deeper relaxation. What do shoppers think? Nodpod is a “sleep game changer” according to one customer review.
Hill House Home
Nell Diamond founded Hill House Home with the hope of making “happy things for happy places” and she’s succeeding with a range of midi and maxi dresses featuring lightweight fabrics, ruffles, adorable prints and a loyal fanbase.
Hill House Home
Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress
The brand carries a lovely selection of dresses that are perfect for spring and summer including the signature Nap Dress (it’s also breastfeeding-friendly). Save 25% off with the code SPRING25.
Maison Miru
This independent, direct-to-consumer jewelry brand creates pieces made for work and play. Designed by former engineer Maison Miru, the brand makes waterproof, sweatproof jewelry designed for continuous wear (they even have a collection of earrings that won’t hurt your ears while you’re taking a nap).
Also, the jewelry comes packaged in cute little boxes.
Maison Miru
Maison Miru Classic Huggie Hoops
TomboyX
TomboyX is a gender-inclusive, queer-owned brand founded in 2013 by married couple Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez. The brand carries sustainable bras, boxers, briefs, gender-affirming underwear, swimwear, tees, tanks, hoodies, joggers and more in sizes 3XS-6X.
TomboyX
TomboyX Boy Shorts
TomboyX’s popular boy shorts are available in various colors including black, charcoal, burnt orange and rainbow prints.
Alterre
Founded by Shilpa Iyengar and Harmony Pilobello, Alterre is a sustainable footwear brand featuring ethically made designs in nice prints as well as solid colors.
Alterre
Alterre Painted Snake Pointed Loafer + Twiggy Strap
Each shoe features foam-padded insoles and interchangeable straps, making it easy to instantly switch up your look.
PerfectDD
With PerfectDD, founder and CEO Alice Kim set out to create figure-flattering, fun and flirty tops for women with fuller busts.
PerfectDD
PerfectDD Krista Tulip Sleeve Scoop
The Krista Tulip top offers the versatility of a basic T-shirt with a scoop-neck design, and in a few different colors such as black, white, gray and army green (sizes X-SX).
Dezi Eyewear
Dezi Eyewear is TikTok– and Beyoncé-approved. The eyewear brand, founded by influencer Desi Perkins, features stylish sunglasses for under $100. You can find Dezi Eyewear at desi.co and Nordstrom.
Dezi Eyewear
Dezi Eyewear Drippy 59mm Sunglasses
Daydreamer
For the daydreaming music lover. Daydreamer is an LA-based streetwear brand founded by Laura Glover that has tops, bottoms and oversized band tees covering just about every music genre you can think of including alternative rock, pop, pop rock, hip-hop, country and metal.
Daydreamer
Daydreamer Shania Let’s Go Girls Vintage Tee
ThirdLove
ThirdLove was founded by Heidi Zak and Ra’el Cohen to provide “a third, better option” between comfortable bras and sexy bras.
ThirdLove
ThirdLove T-Shirt Bra
Shoppers can’t stop talking about ThirdLove’s bestselling T-shirt bra. It’s a supportive, comfortable everyday bra that has nearly 60,000 customer reviews and a 4.5-star rating. The bra is available in a dozen colors and cup sizes ranging from A-H.
Thigh Society
Big or small, Thigh Society covers them all! Founded by Marnie Rabinovitch Consky, Thigh Society makes size-inclusive, anti-chafing, multi-wear slip shorts, the first of which was introduced in 2009.
Thigh Society
Thigh Society The Staple Short
The Staple short is nicknamed “Goldilocks” because it’s not too thick or too sheer — it just right. The comfortable short is available in sizes ranging from XS-6XL (in black, beige, rosette, lilac and indigo).
For more recommendations, read our picks for the best tote bags for travel, best workout gear and
The road to success in regional Mexican music, a genre historically dominated by men, has been difficult for women. But their constant struggle over the years has led them to have a greater presence at the forefront, although they are still a minority and much remains to be done to achieve equality. Even those who […]
After the death of her mother in 2017, Olga Tañón went through troubling times that were exacerbated by the arrival of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“I can’t say that I went into depression … I got anxious,” the Puerto Rican tropical music star tells Billboard Español. “I didn’t sing for two and a half years.” She also mentions she gained a considerable amount of weight, and that she still wears a mask to protect her daughter Gabriela, who has been dealing with a rare genetic disorder and autoimmune conditions for years.
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But during her lockdown period at her Ocala, Florida home, the “Mujer de Fuego” (Fire Woman) decided to take back the reins of her life. She not only sang again, but she underwent bariatric surgery to lose the extra pounds, after acknowledging that she wasn’t able to do it on her own. The characteristically bold artist has openly spoken about this experience via social media.
After that, she went off to record over 25 songs — she’s already released more than a dozen, the most recent being the tongue-in-cheek vallenato cut “Perro Arrepentido.” Furthermore, the star is back on stage, showcasing her signature energetic performances though her live shows. Now she is preparing to travel the world with her Simetría Tour, which will take her to Latin America, Europe and the U.S. starting this June in Peru.
“I am very happy,” says the hitmaker of songs like “Cómo Olvidar,” “Así es la Vida” and “Basta Ya” — who in her over-three-decade career has landed 38 singles on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart and holds the record as the woman with the most top 10s on the Tropical Airplay listing, with a staggering 28. “I think we all had a big resurgence after the pandemic, which hit many people so hard.”
In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard introduced its “Las Poderosas” series, featuring a select number of powerful Latinas getting real about the word “empowerment,” as well as about their space in Latin music and more. The series debuted on March 20 with LALI and continued on the 22nd with Nathy Peluso and Carla Morrison on the 23rd. Read our exclusive Q&A with Olga Tañón below:
What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?
To take control of things and not depend on others. I always tell women — and I am very clear — when they ask me, “Olga, why did you decide to have a bariatric procedure if you could [lose weight on your own]?” I’m like, “You know what? Because I wanted to!” That is very easy to answer. The decision was completely mine, because you are the only person who is going to take the risks and the consequences. And empowerment for me is really doing what you want, but coming out triumphant, even if it hurts.
What does empowerment NOT mean to you?
Sitting at home doing nothing and thinking that things are never really going to change. Lazy people, people who fall and say, “Oh, I can’t handle this anymore” … I haven’t been through — and I pray to God that I never go through it — the loss of a child. Whenever I have met people who have lost a child, you know, it’s been a terrible thing that never, ever — even though I have a daughter with a serious condition — crosses my mind.
But it happened to one of my best friends, and it is the example that she gives me. She tells me: “If I sit down to mourn my daughter my whole life, I’m going to destroy it.” And she has become a beautiful influencer who talks about wonderful things. Turning yourself into a potato is not empowerment. [Empowerment] is taking advantage of those difficult times to get back up and emerge stronger.
What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?
To not deny myself of new opportunities. Because there are many people who are convinced that theirs is the absolute truth of the whole world and universe, and they are wrong. I believe that you can also do some kind of fusion within the things that you do. I love staying current, but I don’t close myself off to other things either. It is one thing to be faithful to your roots, and another thing to have an open mind to continue learning new sounds, new proposals.
Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model?
My mom, a woman who studied up to sixth grade; they took her out of school because she had to raise all her siblings, because there was hunger in her house. My mom always told me that the greatest pain a human being can have is the pain of hunger. And she taught me many things. Mami was a loving but rustic woman. I used to tell her, “You are like a rose, beautiful from above but with some thorns that annoy.” But they told you the truth. My mom taught me to keep going and forget about the things that people say. If you pay attention to every thing that others tell you, you will never live your own life.
Have things changed for Latina women in music in the last five years?
I have seen a tremendous change, especially in urbano women. In the tropical genre, there are still not many [female artists] — or unfortunately if there are many, they have not been given the value that they should be given. But I’ve seen a lot of women, which is something that I love … [It started with the rapper] Lisa M in Puerto Rico, and obviously the one who has maintained all this is Ivy Queen — because sometimes I say, “It’s not the first, it’s the one who maintains it,” and she has kept going. Well look, we are seeing girls like Karol G, who is really taking half the world by storm right now, and I am more than proud of all those girls.
What is your favorite girl-power song?
The songs that I live to sing in my shows — and it’s like I sing it for the first time, and [it] gets me emotional in the same way — are actually two: “La Gran Fiesta” and “Basta Ya,” a song that came out 28 or 29 years ago, when the word “empowerment” wasn’t so in style. These type of songs give you enough strength to learn to say “go to hell” to all the things that are not good for you and don’t nourish your soul. Also it’s like in “La Gran Fiesta,” to recognize that life has its bad moments, that when it hits you it doesn’t warn you, but you cherish the most beautiful little moments that you experience. And that reminds me a lot of my mom, because she had the opportunity to listen to it before she died, and every time I sing it I feel like I’m flying.
After taking a break in 2017 and spending some time out of the spotlight, Carla Morrison recounts a more positive return to the stage than she imagined with El Renacimiento Tour, which began in May 2022 and continues in 2023. Between laughs, the Mexican singer-songwriter describes to Billboard Español how happy she felt to reunite with her fans and to hear their longing for her romantic music in times of reggaetón.
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Her perspective on touring is different this time.
With more self-awareness, the wisdom of someone who has worked on herself, and an assertiveness that she attributes to experience, Morrison expresses: “I have very clear limits, my routine, my priorities, and my values. I also think it’s my age, I’m about to turn 37 and I feel less serious about everything. I say to myself: ‘Carla, is just music, no one is going to die… Enjoy it!’”
She did not always have the same confidence. When Morrison began to take her first steps in music, she was ashamed to charge for her performances. It was her mother who insisted to her: “Mija, fight for what is yours.” She now understands that her mother wanted to teach her to fight for her rights.
Since then, she has faced many challenges as a woman in music. “To be compared, to be branded, to be called many names. My music has been used without asking for permission… by men with a lot of power,” she recalls. When she complained about not receiving credit for her music, she was told she should be thankful.
However, asked about the future, Morrison says without hesitation: “The future is female. We are gaining more ground and we are finally getting the place we deserve. And when that happens, it’s just going to be a world filled with love, compassion, tenderness, and opportunity. There are going to be many more women in production, on stage, in photography, in art, and management. You will see many women participating and learning without fear.”
Recently, Morrison collaborated with Karol G on the song “Mañana Será Bonito,” which peaked at No. 19 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 11. The track also earned Morrison her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. The composition was a request by the Colombian artist and Morrison wasn’t expecting to sing on it. She remembers that her husband (with whom she usually writes songs) pointed out that “Mañana Será Bonito” should be the title of the song. To their surprise, it ended up being the title chosen by the Colombian star for her historic album.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard kicked off its “Las Poderosas” series, featuring a select number of powerful Latinas who get real about the word “empowerment,” their space in Latin music, and more. The series debuted on March 20 with LALI and continued on the 22nd with Nathy Peluso. Read the exclusive Q&A with Morrison below:
What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?
It’s remembering your rights and what you deserve like any human being in this world. I think women have often fallen into that place where we feel that we should not ask, question or demand, because we look bad, because we should be grateful … But in reality, we have every right to question, ask and demand. I believe that empowering yourself is putting yourself in the place that you should always be, knowing your value, our work, and the quality and value of our work.
What does empowerment NOT mean to you?
Making decisions based on fear, based on saying, ‘No, I’m not going to ask and I’m not going to say anything because [when I’m quiet] I look prettier.’ I think that this is not empowering. And it is not empowering to attack men either.
What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?
When I was just starting, I wrote to Julieta Venegas through MySpace, and I told her, “I’m from Tecate, I’m starting music and I wanted to ask you for some advice — because I saw that you left very young, how did you manage?” And she told me: “Carla, I just left, I fought for my dream — if I can, you can.” And that is one of the things I remember and treasure a lot, because she made me see something that I felt so unattainable as very achievable. Something as simple as a word of support, someone telling you, “You can do it too,” is priceless.
Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model?
Hijole, the truth is going to sound very cliché, but I think that the person who has inspired me the most in my life is my mother. There have been so many women who have given me good advice, but my mother is the woman I admire the most — because she is a very strong and hard-working woman. She always told me that writing, singing and being an artist was good. And she always brings me back to earth when I travel a lot in my thoughts. My mom has been my mom, but also my friend and my accomplice. And I know not all of us have that.
Have things changed for Latina women in music in the last five years?
I think that things have changed in the aspect of the sisterhood. I think that among women we support, celebrate and accept each other more, and we criticize each other less. What I do think hasn’t changed is this very sexual part, of feeling that we have to expose ourselves to sell. I think some women show off their bodies because they love it and that’s fine. So, if that’s their way of presenting their work, that’s fine with me, because they feel comfortable. I don’t feel so comfortable there with the boobs out and so on, but I see other girls who do it and I say: awesome! If it works for you … Amazing! But it’s not my style.
Favorite girl power song?
A song that spoke to me about female empowerment when I was very young and made me cry when I heard it was “Quisieras Andar Conmigo” by Julieta Venegas. I remember when I heard it I said, “Julieta, what!” It is something that never happens. I thought it was cool that a girl wrote a song that talks about something that men usually do. And right now, clearly [“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”] by Shakira and Bizarrap. By being honest, [Shakira] empowered herself, but women empowered her more, and so it became this Amazon-like force. And another song is “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé.
Armed with confidence, artistic prowess and infectious beats and lyrics, Nathy Peluso has quickly become one of the most fascinating artists of our time.
After releasing her first full-length album Calambre in 2020, which scored her a few Latin Grammy nominations, Peluso was catapulted to worldwide acclaim — thanks to a creative spirit that’s allowed her to thrive in different spaces, as a true chameleon in the industry. She’s taken genres such as salsa, bachata, R&B, pop and funk and effortlessly made them her own.
“The best advice I’ve received as a woman in music was from my mom, to never compromise my authenticity for anyone or anything,” the “Estás Buenísimo” singer tells Billboard.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard kicked off its “Las Poderosas” series, featuring a select number of powerful Latinas who get real about the word “empowerment,” their space in Latin music, and more. The series launched Monday (March 20) with LALI, which you can read here.
Below, our exclusive Q&A with Peluso:
What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?
Empowerment to me as an artist and as a woman means having the freedom to express myself, create my art, and make my own decisions without being constrained by societal expectations or prejudices. It’s about embracing my identity and my strength and inspiring others to do the same.
What does empowerment NOT mean to you?
Empowerment does NOT mean putting others down or diminishing their experiences. It’s not about being better than anyone else, but rather about recognizing and celebrating our unique qualities and using them to uplift and support each other.
What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?
The best advice I’ve received as a woman in music was from my mom, to never compromise my authenticity for anyone or anything. Staying true to myself, my values, and my art has been key to my success and personal fulfillment.
Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model? Who do you admire and why?
I have always admired J.Lo for her incredible talent, work ethic, and multifaceted career. She has broken barriers for Latinas in music, film, and business.
Have things changed for Latin women in music in the last five years and how?
In the last five years, things have changed for Latin women in music in many ways. There is now more visibility, representation, and support for female artists in the industry. We have seen a rise in successful Latina singers and songwriters across various genres, breaking down stereotypes and challenging the status quo. While progress has been made, there’s still much work to be done to ensure equal opportunities and recognition for Latin women in music.
What is your favorite “girl power” song?
My favorite “girl power” song is “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. It’s a classic anthem that has inspired generations of women to stand up for themselves and demand the respect they deserve.
If her Instagram account is any indication, LALI is living her best touring life.
Most recently, the Argentine singer-songwriter — who’s on her Disciplina trek — made history with a sold-out concert at the Velez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in front of more than 45,000 people, becoming the first singer to sell out a show at that soccer stadium.
“It’s impossible to express what I feel after this sold-out show,” she wrote on social media. “Thanks to all who vibed with me. I am so proud of my dream team that is always by my side and made this happen. I’m also proud of myself for working hard to give you the best of me. A dream, that was once just a dream, came true.”
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LALI owes this career milestone, and others like it, to her female-led team that backs her up. “For me, empowerment is a collective thing,” she tells Billboard. “It’s not so individual or personal, it’s more what I learn from others and what I can spread to others.”
In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard kicks off its “Las Poderosas” series featuring a select number of powerful Latinas who get real about the word “empowerment,” their space in Latin music, and more. The series launches Monday (March 20) with LALI. Read our exclusive Q&A below:
What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?
Being able to develop freely and with that freedom generate a contagion effect on other colleagues. For example, not only those of us who are at the forefront of a project but also those who are working behind our projects. [Empowerment] means generating that feminine synergy in a work environment that not only embraces one as the main artist but also all the people who participate in the project, mainly the women who promote the artist. For me, empowerment is a collective thing. It’s not so individual or personal, it’s more what I learn from others and what I can spread to others.
What does empowerment NOT mean to you?
The opposite of what I just said… looking at empowerment as an egoic matter and of personal success. Using your role as a woman in the industry and if you only achieve it as your own success or for yourself, then I think it doesn’t make sense to talk about empowerment.
Lali Esposito during a performance of the Argentine national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup final at Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Picture date: Sunday December 18, 2022.
Nick Potts/PA Images/GI
What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?
I don’t know if it was advice but I think that thanks to other women who set the trends, I realized that in the end, they had told us that there is always a guy behind the success of certain women. But finding out on my own by being behind my idols, I realized that no. That the ideas are generally theirs, that they have defended positions, and that to break structures you have to stand up as a woman and your vision, and for that, you need others on your team to elevate that.
Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model? Who do you admire and why?
Artistically, I feel that for me in my teens Beyoncé was very important because I realized that my dream was to do 360 of everything. There was content, there were lyrics, there was dancing, well… singing like her, but without a doubt, she was a woman who marked me a lot. And of Argentine national rock, there are many women who have marked my childhood, thanks to my mother who has made me listen to a lot of music such as Celeste Carballo and Fabiana Cantillo. They were women who at the time have been pioneers and came to occupy a place in a very difficult environment where normally it was all male.
Have things changed for Latin women in music in the last five years and how?
I don’t know if things have changed, I think there is a bit of everything. It was about time that there was a real force of women to occupy a leading role, to compete with men on the charts, or see that there really are Latina women today No. 1 in the world. That is incredible, it is necessary, and it also speaks of an audience that she has understood. Not only would it be possible for women to do a good job and place themselves there, but the public understood that women can occupy those spaces, and the public has re-educated itself and pushed women where they should be. I think it’s a collective effort.
What is your favorite “girl power” song?
Wow! They are a lot. I think Beyonce’s “Formation” could be it. It lifts me up!
What better way to celebrate women than by chanting along to some of their greatest girl-power hits? For Women’s History Month, we’ve gathered some of our favorite anthems by women rappers — and a few singers who dipped into the genre — who range from certified legends to burgeoning stars.
According to a recent Spotify-funded study from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, less than 25% of the artists on Billboard’s Hot 100 Year-End chart for 2021 were women–something that has gone virtually unimproved over the last decade. When it comes to songwriters, the numbers are even more alarming, with women comprising 12.7% within the last ten years. It’s hard to believe, with so many certified hits from women across genres, which is all the more reason to keep these uplifting tracks in your rotation.
The round-up spans three decades (beginning with Queen Latifah and ending with Ice Spice) and includes widely-acclaimed hits like Lizzo’s chart-topping single girl anthem, “Truth Hurts” to unforgettable Y2K favorites like “Bossy” by Kelis, all the while keeping you prepared to dominate whatever is to come, regardless of your gender. Some artists on the list even sampled songs from artists who came before them, for example Lizzo sampling Lauryn Hill’s “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” on her 2022 album cut, “Break Up Twice.”
Some cuts motivate us to demand the respect we deserve while others simply get us in the mood to pop out with our baddie friends. While we could’ve listed about a hundred more, here are 15 ear-worm anthems to get you started.
Queen Latifah, “U.N.I.T.Y.”
If instinct leads Queen Latifah “to another flow” every time she hears a man “call a girl a b—h or a ho,” then she must’ve written quite a few raps. While misogyny doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, Latifah’s 1993 Grammy-winning single “U.N.I.T.Y.” serves as a healing balm to women dealing with disrespect across the many facets of life. On the track, the iconic rapper fights back against instances of sexual harassment, abuse and cat-calling, offering golden advice: “A man don’t really love you if he hits ya/ This is my notice to the door, I’m not takin’ it no more.”
Lauryn Hill, “Doo-Wop (That Thing)”
Image Credit: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images
One of the greatest rappers of our time despite only releasing one studio album, Lauryn Hill has proven time and time again that quality trumps quantity. While many cuts from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill continue to permeate pop culture at large, “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” remains the most anthemic, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marking Hill’s first and only visit to the top spot on the chart. You’d be hard-pressed to find a woman who can’t rap at least one verse of the truth-filled single word for word, especially the lyric, “Baby girl, respect is just a minimum.”
Eve, “Who’s That Girl?”
If you ever need to gain that final boost of confidence before asking for a raise, confronting your ex or simply want to step outside knowing you’re *that* girl, Eve’s got something for you. The then-first lady of Ruff Ryders Entertainment set off her sophomore album, Scorpion, with a bang, releasing the supergirl cut that went on to appear on the Hot 100, US Rhythmic and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. “Power moves is made every day by this thorough b—h/ I’ma get this bank any way that I do this shit,” she raps.
Missy Elliott, “Work It”
“If you’re a fly gal, get your nails done/ Get a pedicure, get your hair did,” Missy Elliott instructs on the Timbaland-produced “Work It.” An anthem celebrating women of all shapes and sizes, Missy’s “Work It” represents a reclaiming of women’s power over their bodies, sexuality and desires. While the still-heavily-rotated cut never made it to No. 1 on the Hot 100 (“Lose Yourself” by Eminem claimed the top spot for twelve consecutive weeks), “Work It” remained at No. 2 for ten weeks and stuck in our heads forever.
Kelis, “Bossy”
Kelis taught us the important lesson that being liked is not required to be respected. Especially if you’re a boss. The Harlem cool girl who gave us “Milkshake” in 2003 continued to exude H.B.I.C. energy with this 2006 cut, which became Kelis’ third Hot 100 entry. Featuring Bay Arena legend Too $hort, the bouncy track is sure to get you feeling unapologetically badass.
Remy Ma, “Conceited”
Before body positivity and affirmations became hot topics, we had songs like “Conceited,” Remy Ma’s 3-minute self-love pep talk. “Yeah, okay, I got a little fat but/ My shorty tell me he like it like that,” she raps while rolling around blue silk sheets. And why not? She’s conceited, she’s got a reason.
Beyoncé, “Diva”
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/GI
Meet Beyoncé’s boisterous, unapologetic alter ego, Sasha Fierce. She first stepped foot on the scene by way of Bey’s hit-filled 2008 album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. Unlike the sweet and bubbly Beyoncé we all knew, Sasha confidently declares herself the “No. 1 diva in the game,” with reason. In 2023, the pop icon broke the record for most Grammys ever won, bringing in her 32nd gramophone after Renaissance won for best dance/electronic album.
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé, “Feeling Myself”
It’s the link-up of all link-ups. On her epic third studio album,The Pinkprint, Nicki Minaj enlisted none other than Queen Bey for the record-breaking single, “Feeling Myself.” The track, co-written by SZA, spent 20 weeks on the Hot 100 chart, making it the longest charting non-single by a female rapper.
Rihanna, “Bitch Better Have My Money”
There’s a reason why Rihanna opened up her historic Super Bowl Halftime Show with “B—h Better Have My Money.” The track is overflowing with assertive, confident and eye-catching energy, the recently elusive star popping out in an all red look accentuating her growing baby bump. All the while, she effortlessly entranced the crowd, running through her laundry list of No. 1 tracks and barely breaking a sweat. What’s more badass than that?
City Girls, “Act Up”
Image Credit: 2020HHA/Getty Images via Getty Images
If they don’t play “Act Up,” was the party really active? In 2019, City Girls burst into the mainstream with this epically viral smash hit that galvanized women across generations. As soon as the opening melody sounds off in the club, the entire crowd is sure to scream-chant Yung Miami’s opening verse word for word … and likely the rest of the three and a half minute song. It’s always the songs that can liven a crowd in a matter of one second that stand the test of time, and it’s clear that “Act Up” is no exception.
Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”
Lizzo brought us the best catchphrase of 2019 with her Hot 100 chart-topper, “Truth Hurts.” While “Why men great til they gotta be great” is a close second, we’ve got to give it to the Detroit-born songwriting genius’ DNA test, declaring that she is, in fact, “100% that b—h.” With “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo entirely changed the game, proving that in 2019, you don’t have to fit an ultra-skinny, white mold to be an absolutely glamorous pop star.
Lola Brooke feat. Billy G, “Don’t Play With It”
While she stands at a petite four-foot-nine, Lola Brooke is not one to mess with. Case-in-point: “Don’t Play With It.” On it, Brooke proves her versatility, asking for a kiss and an extended clip. Fans joked that the TikTok-viral cut was to women what Chief Keef songs are to men, numerous users posting videos aggressively rapping the lyrics to their boyfriends, who looked on with a tinge of fear in their eyes. And yes, you should be scared.
Latto, “It’s Givin”
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/PMC
Latto enlisted some of our favorite ladies in her “It’s Givin” music video, including Halle Bailey, Ella Mai, Angela Simmons. The track is an ode to all women, featuring mothers, people with physical disabilities, healthcare professionals and same-sex couples posing for portraits as the “Big Energy” singer raps, “Workin’ 9 to 5 and she tryna finish school/ I bring the table to the table, n—a, why would I need you?”
GloRilla & Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2”
Following her breakout hit, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” GloRilla had no plans of letting up, enlisting superstar rapper Cardi B for her follow up single, “Tomorrow 2.” The track is pure feminine energy, with the two rappers riding around New York City with all their girlfriends in the video, twerking on cars and in subways, or leaving the bodega munching on Takis corn chips. Cardi’s iconic verse on the cut is sure to endure on party playlists for years to come.
Ice Spice, “Bikini Bottom”
No artist took over the past year as swiftly and effortlessly as Isis Gaston, better known as Ice Spice. The Bronx native took the world by storm, releasing bop after bop and uplifting the ladies all the while. While cuts like “Munch (Feelin U)” and her internet-breaking appearance on PinkPantheress’ “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” dominate her catalog, “Bikini Bottom” begs the essential question, “How can I lose if I’m already chose?”
Women’s History Month kicked off strong with three Spanish-speaking artists being honored at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music awards on March 1 in Los Angeles.
Rosalía received the first-ever producer of the year award, presented by Bose, where she expressed that women winning awards for being behind the scenes is unusual; Becky G was awarded the impact award, where she opened up about following her dreams as a 200 percenter (100 percent Latina and 100 percent American); and Ivy Queen was honored with the icon award — becoming the first reggaetónera to receive this merit — where she talked about her battles of finding a spot in the male-dominated reggaetón genre.
What’s even more remarkable about these three women in music is that in addition to each leading their individual successful careers, they’re all about supporting their female colleagues, best seen in their collaborations.
For International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on March 8, Billboard compiled 21 powerful collabs between Latin female artists. The list includes unapologetic bangers, such as iLe and Ivy Queen’s latest track “Algo Bonito” and Ptazeta and Villano Antillano’s “Mujerón,” as well as ultimate breakup songs, such as Becky G and Karol G’s “MAMIII,” and of course Karol’s Shakira-assisted “TQG.” There’s also a couple of joints that are all about reflection and finding your self-worth after a toxic relationship, such as Kany García and Mon Laferte’s “Se Portaba Mal” and India and Goyo’s “Nubes Negras.”
Check out the full list, in alphabetical order by the artist’s first name, below:
Aitana, Ana Guerra, Greeicy & Tini, “Lo Malo”
Because two were not enough, Aitana and Ana Guerra recruited Tini and Greeicy on their 2018 track to add more girl power to their collab “Lo Malo.” The pop-urban song is about a woman who’s not settling for a bad boy.
Watch the music video here
Amandititita & Sandra Echeverría, “De Mejores Corazones Me Han Corrido”
Real-life BFFs Amandititita and Sandra Echeverría joined forces on “De Mejores Corazones Me Han Corrido,” about “a woman who doesn’t allow herself to be defeated by a failed relationship,” according to a previous Billboard interview with Amandititita.
Watch the music video here
Ana Bárbara & Paquita la del Barrio, “El Consejo”
Regional Mexican Queens Ana Bárbara and Paquita la del Barrio joined forces to deliver the ultimate advice you can offer to a friend: “Whoever deceives me, I’ll deceive them/ Whoever hits me, I’ll hit them/ Whoever uses me, I’ll use them/ And so we were even,” — in other words, an eye for an eye.
Watch the music video hero
Becky G & Karol G, “MAMIII”
Set up as what appears to be a spiteful song, the first-ever collab between the two G’s — produced by Ovy on the Drums — quickly takes a turn, transitioning into a bouncy, uptempo anthem about the empowerment that comes after letting go of a toxic relationship.
Watch the music video here
Becky G & Natti Natasha, “Sin Pijama”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
In 2018, Becky G and Natti Natasha took the reins and unapologetically sang about sex, weed, and booty calls, sending the message that it’s OK for women to talk about these topics.
Chiquis, Ely Quintero & Helen Ochoa, “Las Destrampadas”
With this collab, Chiquis breaks down what it actually means to be such a free spirit. “She’s someone who doesn’t necessarily break the rules, but bends them a little bit,” she previously told Billboard. “We just like to party and enjoy life.”
Watch the music video here
Elena Rose, Maria Becerra, Greeicy, Becky G & TINI, “La Ducha (Remix)”
For the remix of her single “La Ducha,” Elena Rose reeled in some of her collaborators — Maria Becerra, Greeicy, Becky G, and TINI — for a steamy track about sexy alone time in the bathroom while thinking of that special someone. The track even samples Becky’s own 2014 hit “Shower.”
Watch the music video here
Flor de Rap & Denise Rosenthal, “Bailalo Mujer”
Santiago artists Flor and Rosenthal’s “Bailalo Mujer” is a danceable pop-urban track about lifting, supporting, and rooting for each other. “In our philosophy, we’re all equal/ And with respect we build realities/ We don’t believe in monarchies, that’s why we’re all queens here,” sings Rosenthal.
Gloria Trevi & Alejandra Guzman, “Mas Buena”
Image Credit: Victor Chavez/WireImage
As part of their first-ever joint Versus Tour five years ago, ’90s rock divas Gloria Trevi and Alejandra Guzman dropped “Mas Buena,” a song about a woman whose life only got better after her relationship was over.
iLe & Ivy Queen, “Algo Bonito”
In the very potent “Dime Algo Bonito” (Tell Me Something Nice), Puerto Rican songstresses iLe and Ivy Queen not only demand respect but also belt unapologetic verses against machismo. “I have never believed that quiet I look prettier/ When I spit it’s like fire and acid,” sings Ivy.
Watch the music video here
India & Goyo, “Nubes Negras”
With potent vocals and fierce lyricism, this salsa-infused urban track is an anthem for women who were once victims of domestic abuse but have found their liberty and self-worth — hence “no more dark clouds since you left” in the chorus.
Watch the music video here
Kany García & Mon Laferte, “Se Portaba Mal”
One of Kany García’s biggest gems from her 2020 duets album Mesa Para Dos is “Se Portaba Mal (She Misbehaved),” sung in collaboration with Chilean singer-songwriter Mon Laferte — an eye-opening and compassionate look at domestic violence victims.
Listen to the track here
Karol G & Shakira, “TQG”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
In their first collaborative effort, Colombian superstars Karol G & Shakira dropped “TQG” (Te Quedo Grande) in February, a sultry reggaetón jam bout a woman who only got stronger, leveled up and had a major glow-up after a breakup.
Lola Indigo, Danna Paola, & Denise Rosenthal, “Santería”
Three years ago, Spain’s Lola Indigo recruited Mexico’s Danna Paola and Chile’s Denise Rosenthal to showcase their powerhouse vocals and fierce attitude in “Santería,” an empowering bop for strong, independent women who take control.
Watch the music video here
Natti Natasha, Farina, Cazzu & La Duraca, “Las Nenas”
“I feel that it’s necessary to end the stigma that girls don’t collaborate because they are competitive and they are rivals,” Natti previously told Billboard of her ultra-girl-power collab with Farina, Cazzu, and newcomer La Duraca. “We made this happen and we need to keep the women’s movement at the top.”
Watch the music video here
Ptazeta & Villano Antillano, “Mujerón”
Image Credit: Interscope Records
An electro-trap-perreo track made by women for women, “Mujerón” — which loosely translates to “too much woman” — is an ode to those badass girls who are independent, confident and date on their own terms.
Sofia Reyes & Maria Becerra, “Marte”
Reyes and Becerra joined forces on the galactic reggaetón banger “Marte,” off of Reyes’ sophomore album Mal de Amores, which is a friendly reminder that women should never tolerate toxicity.
Watch the music video here
Thalia & Kenia OS, “Para No Verte Más”
As someone who’s always supported the new wave of Latina artists, Thalía teamed up with Mexican newcomer Kenia OS earlier this month for “Para No Verte Más,” a sugary pop version of La Mosca’s 1999 rock hit. The song is about ripping up every photo and memory of an ex, in order to never see them again.
Watch the music video here
TINI & La Joaqui, “Muñecas”
A catchy cumbia villera meshed with EDM, the Steve Aoki-assisted track finds Argentine artists TINI and La Joaqui singing about the single life. “This song represents the importance that all my friends are to me, and it’s a way of motivating myself to love again,” TINI previously said to Billboard.
Watch the music video here
Tokischa & Rosalía, “Linda”
Image Credit: Elissa Salas*
This infectious dembow released in 2021 finds Tokischa and Rosalia singing about two friends who like to party together — and here and there, pop a kiss, because “you’re pretty, I’m wild, we kiss but we’re homies.”
Yuridia & Angela Aguilar, “Qué Agonía”
Image Credit: Andres Solis
For the first time, Mexican sweethearts Yuridia and Angela Aguilar joined forces on “Qué Agonía,” a heartfelt ranchera where both admit their own faults in a failed relationship — but recognize that they still love their ex and are asking for forgiveness.
You can take yourself dancing and even cycling to Miley Cyrus‘ music, thanks to Apple Fitness+ newly added workouts. In honor of Women’s History Month, Cyrus, Mariah Carey and Shania Twain will be highlighted as part of the program’s Artist Spotlight series, which dedicates an entire set of workouts to a single artist and their discography.
Starting Monday (March 6), Fitness+ users can pedal to the beat of the “Flowers” singer’s music in a cycling workout, return to heart center when it’s a wrap on the Carey-inspired yoga workout and feel like a powerful woman post-strength workout featuring Twain’s tunes.
Fitness+ Artist Spotlight
Courtesy of Apple
New workouts will roll out every Monday throughout the month of March. Ahead of the release of her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, due March 10 via Columbia Records, Cyrus will have her fans sweating and singing along to her biggest hits while getting that summer body through dance, HIIT, strength and cycling workouts.
Meanwhile, the Lambily will need to stretch as far and wide as Mimi’s vocal range — which spans across five octaves and goes all the way up to those whistle tones we all try reaching when belting out her 1991 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “Emotions” — ahead of her cycling, dance, HIIT and yoga workouts.
And the Queen of Country Pop’s cycling, yoga, strength and treadmill workouts will prove her fans ain’t no quitters and will leave them impressed with their results. “You’ve got to make working out fun, do what you love, so it feels like burning energy instead of a job! I hear lots of people like listening to my music in the gym and it makes me so happy – it means it’s energetic and inspirational,” Twain said in a press statement. “That’s why I’m so excited for this Artist Spotlight series on Fitness+. So Giddy Up! And do what makes you happy!”
Other musicians who’ve had sets of Apple Fitness+ workouts dedicated to them include Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, BTS, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, ABBA, Prince, Shakira, The Beatles, Nicki Minaj and many more.
According to the Apple Fitness+ website, anyone who purchases a new iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Apple TV (and hasn’t previously subscribed to Apple Fitness+) will have free access to Apple Fitness+ for three months before paying $9.99 monthly, or $79.99 annually. New subscribers who already have the aforementioned Apple products can get free access to Apple Fitness+ for one month. Apple Fitness+ can be shared with up to five family members.
Women’s History Month has arrived, and in celebration, Billboard has compiled a list of all the women who earned a No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart since 2015. The chart ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week, blending airplay, streaming, and digital sales data.
But first, let’s trace back to 2012 when icons Gloria Estefan and Paulina Rubio reached No. 1 on the coveted chart. The former debuted and peaked at No. 1 with “Hotel Nacional,” and the latter with “Me Gustas Tanto.” For over three years, women’s representation was scarce at the top of the Latin charts until Maná’s “Mi Verdad,” where they were accompanied by Shakira. The following year, Shak’s “Chantaje” (in collaboration with Maluma) debuted and peaked at No. 1 on the chart dated Nov. 19, 2016, where it ruled for 11 weeks.
Like Estefan, Rubio, and Shak, other Latinas have made Billboard history.
Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s “Tusa” became the first song to debut at No. 1 in 2019, and the first title by two women in a lead role to open atop the chart since its inception in 1986. With “Telepatia,” Kali Uchis became the first female soloist without an accompanying act to reach No. 1 since 2012. Becky G and Karol G’s “Mamiii” hit No. 1 last year, and when it was followed on top by her solo smash “Provenza,” Karol became the first woman to replace herself at No. 1 on the chart.
Starting off 2023 strong, Shakira hit No. 1 with her Bizarrap-assisted “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” tying Bad Bunny for the fourth-most No. 1s overall on the listing, both with 12.
Below, revisit all the tracks by or featuring a Latina artist to have reached No. 1 since 2015:
Maná feat. Shakira, “Mi Verdad” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
On February 28, 2015, after three years of having no female representation at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira arrived as a featured artist on Maná’s heartwarming ballad “Mi Verdad.”
Shakira feat. Maluma, “Chantaje” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
The following year, Shakira remained on the throne with her sultry reggaetón smash “Chantaje,” where she was joined by then-newcomer Maluma. The track hit No. 1 on Nov. 19, 2016, and ruled for 11 weeks.
El Chombo, Karol G, Pitbull feat. Cutty Ranks, “Dame Tu Cosita (Remix)” (2018)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
In May 2018, an up-and-coming Karol G arrived at No. 1 thanks to Pitbull and El Chombo’s “Dame Tu Cosita (Remix)” featuring Cutty Ranks, the Jamaican dancehall singer from the original 1998 recording.
DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B, “Taki Taki” (2018)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
The EDM/urban banger “Taki Taki” brought both Selena Gomez (of Mexican descent) and Dominican rapper Cardi B to No. 1, where the DJ Snake-led and Ozuna-assisted track spent 12 weeks.
Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin, “China” (2019)
Image Credit: Miguel Ducos
Karol G hit No. 1 in 2019 with “China,” a Spanish-language adaptation of Shaggy’s 2001 Hot 100-topper “It Wasn’t Me,” where she was joined by Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, and J Balvin. The club banger ruled for 12 weeks.
Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa” (2019)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
That same year, Karol earned another No. 1 as a lead artist with the ultra-breakup reggaetón track “Tusa” alongside Nicki Minaj. The song debuted and peaked at No. 1 on Nov. 23 and ruled for four weeks.
Kali Uchis, “Telepatía” (2021)
Image Credit: Courtesy of UMG
With her dreamy pop track, Uchis scored her first No. 1 on the May 22, 2021-dated Hot Latin Songs chart, becoming the first female soloist without an accompanied act to reach No. 1 since 2012.
Becky G & Karol G, “MAMIII” (2022)
Image Credit: Emilio Sanchez
Becky G’s first No. 1 hit arrived with the fierce and unapologetic “MAMIII,” alongside Karol G. The reggaetón hit debuted and peaked at No. 1 in Feb. 2022, where it ruled for 10 non-consecutive weeks.
Yahritza y Su Esencia, “Soy El Único” (2022)
Image Credit: Rita Feregrino
Not only did this heartfelt sierreño song earn then-15-year-old Yahritza Martinez her first No. 1 hit in April 2022, but she also became the youngest Latin performer to enter the all-genre Hot 100 tally.
Karol G, “Provenza” (2022)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Singing over a lilting, calypso-esque beat, the Colombian artist yearned for an encounter with a past love on the Latin Grammy-nominated “Provenza,” which hit No. 1 on the chart dated May 14, 2022.
Bizarrap & Shakira, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (2023)
Image Credit: Pedro Colmeiro
Early this year, Shakira reclaimed her No. 1 crown with the Bizarrap-helmed, EDM-infused “music sessions, Vol. 53,” where she threw witty punchlines at her ex Gerard Piqué and his new girlfriend.
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