Little Mix and Dua Lipa were among the major winners at this year’s Brit Awards, with Taylor Swift making a surprise appearance on stage.
This year’s awards ceremony saw artists advocate for diversity and equality in the industry.
Many of the show’s winners paid tribute to the essential workers in their acceptance speeches, with Dua Lipa calling on Boris Johnson to increase wages.
The show was the UK’s first large indoor live music event in over a year, after the announcement of the UK’s Covid-19 test scheme.
Among the many impressive awards of the event, Little Mix made history after winning the Best Group award and becoming the first girl band to win the award in the Brits 41 years of existence.
Lipa won best female solo artist and best album with her album ‘Future Nostalgia,’ while Haim won best foreign group with Arlo Parks taking home the breakthrough award.
Taylor Swift also took to the stage in person to accept her previously confirmed global icon award, rather than performing virtually.
Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix paid tribute to the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud in their acceptance speech, saying they couldn’t believe the award had never been awarded to any female band.
“Guys, we’ve just made history! I’m emotional,” Edwards said.
“It’s not easy being a female in the UK pop industry,” Pinnock added. “We have seen white male dominance, misogyny, sexism, and lack of diversity. We are proud of how we have stuck together, stood our ground, and surrounded ourselves with strong women and are now using our voices more than ever.”
Lipa accepted her first award of the night, for best female solo artist, and used her acceptance speech to call for a pay raise for NHS staff, stating, it is “very good to clap for them but we need to pay them”.
Before adding: added: “I think what we should do is we should all give a massive, massive round of applause and give Boris a message that we all support a fair pay rise for our front line.”
Taking to the stage to accept her prestigious award, Taylor Swift also shared a few words with the audience saying she was “really, really proud to be part of this musical community, especially in a year when we all needed music so much”.
She continued: “But what we needed even more was the help and support that we got from the NHS and the key workers who are here tonight. Thank you for everything that you have done for us.”
Check out the full list of winners and nominees below.
Here is the full list of winners and nominees:
Female Solo Artist – Dua Lipa
Arlo Parks
Celeste
Jessie Ware
Lianne La Havas
Male Solo Artist – J Hus
AJ Tracey
Headie One
Joel Corry
Yungblud
British Group – Little Mix
Bicep
Biffy Clyro
The 1975
Young T & Bugsey
Breakthrough Artist – Arlo Parks
Bicep
Celeste
Joel Corry
Young T & Bugsey
Best Album – Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
Celeste – Not Your Muse
J Hus – Big Conspiracy
Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
Best British Single – Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar
220 Kid & Gracey – Don’t Need Your Love
Aitch & AJ Tracey ft Tay Kieth – Rain
Dua Lipa – Physical
Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Aint It Different
Joel Corry ft MNEK – Head & Heart
Nathan Dawe ft KSI – Lighter
Regard & Raye – Secrets
S1mba ft DTG – Rover
Young T & Bugsey ft Headie One – Don’t Rush
International Female Solo Artist – Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Cardi B
Miley Cyrus
Taylor Swift
International Male Solo Artist – The Weeknd
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Childish Gambino
Tame Impala
International Group – Haim
BTS
Fontaines DC
Foo Fighters
Run The Jewels
BRITs Rising Star – Griff
Pa Salieu
Rina Sawayama
Global Icon – Taylor Swift
Education: Computer Network Engineering, Computer Desktop Administration
Fave Song: Destiny's Child 'Dangerously in love'
Fave Colour: Grey.
With £1m what would you do: I would do my part to provide opportunities to the less fortunate. Then do my best to change the world in my own way through sports and talent building.
