POP newcomer Rosalía has become the first Spanish female in history to win an MTV Music Award after taking the top prize for Best Latin Videoclip.
The artist from San Esteban de Sasroviras (Barcelona province), who will turn 26 in a month's time, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to international fame in the past year or two, when her appearances in international arts festivals and her flamenco compilation album gave way to a firm presence at the top of the mainstream music charts, wide acclaim across Europe and the USA, and even a bespoke clothing range at high-street urbanwear store Pull&Bear.
In fact, Rosalía's second album, El Mal Querer - the November 2018 release that launched her into the music stratosphere – was her final-year degree project, part of the syllabus for her qualification in Flamenco Studies at the Catalunya High School of Music.
Six months earlier, however, she had already soared to number one in the Spanish music charts, Los 40 Principales, with the first release from the album, Malamente, which netted five Latin Grammy nominations.
Her unique flamenco-hip hop fusion style has shown no signs of falling out of favour, and her single Con Altura – released this March and featuring J. Balvín and El Guincho, was what won her Best Latin Videoclip at the weekend's MTV Awards.
Rosalía was up against big names on the Latin hip-hop and Reggaeton scene, including Bad Bunny, Karol G and Maluma.
During the ceremony, Rosalía performed three of her singles – A Ningún Hombre, Aute Cuture and her latest release, Yo x Ti, Tú x Mi, featuring Ozuna.
“Thank you for letting me perform tonight and sing in Spanish,” said Rosalía, who is trilingual, being fluent in English and her native regional language, catalán.
Best Videoclip overall went to US artist Taylor Swift for You Need To Calm Down, which she performed along with Lover – and she also took the Video for Good Prize in recognition of clips made with a humanitarian or charitable message.
Swift, when collecting the latter award, stressed that all humans 'should be treated equally at law' and called for all those present to campaign for 'legal equality'.
Italian-American singer Ariana Grande – who admitted recently she is still dealing with the psychological hangover of the Manchester Arena bombing during her concert – won Artist of the Year and Song of Summer Awards with Boyfriend, featuring Social House.
Best New Artist went to Irish-American Billie Eilish who, at 17, is the second-youngest ever to win an MTV Award, after Canadian Justin Bieber.
Best Song of the Year went to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – father of Nothing Breaks Like a Heart singer Miley Cyrus – for Old Town Road (Remix), whilst Best Hip-Hop Videoclip went to Cardi B for Money, and best duet prize to Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello for Señorita.
Catchy retro-pop rock number Sucker won Best Pop and BTS Videoclip for the Jonas Brothers – rounding off the summer nicely for Joe Jonas after his May wedding to Game of Thrones' Sansa Stark, Sophie Turner – whilst Best K-Pop Videoclip went to South Korean band Boy with Luv.
Best Rock Videoclip went to Panic! At the Disco, and Best Dance Videoclip to The Chainsmokers featuring Bebe Rexha.
