Iggy Azalea, Ariana Grande and Charli XCX Win Big at 2014 Billboard Women in Music Awards

Iggy Azalea and her collaborators Ariana Grande and Charli XCX were big winners at the Billboard Women in Music 2014 awards ceremony on Friday.

Grande, who teamed up with Azalea for “Problem,” picked up the Rising Star award from her brother Frankie, while Charli was named Hitmaker of the Year.

Grande paid tribute to her mother and grandmother in her acceptance speech, stating, “I want to thank my mama for teaching me to work hard – and that behind every successful woman is herself, and I want to thank my nonna (grandmother) for taking me to my first audition and for teaching me to have compassion for the haters.”

Charli XCX then took the stage to accept her prize from Paramore’s Hayley Williams and said, “It’s really cool to be at a music industry event where over half the people in the room have vaginas.”

She added, “To be recognized for my work as a songwriter is really incredible because that’s something I care about so much… It’s been fabulous and f**king wild. Every single woman in this room is so incredible.”

Azalea was also honored at the lunchtime gala in New York – the “Fancy” hitmaker accepted the Women in Music Chart-Topper Award and dedicated her win to the CEO of her management company, stating, “I had a rocky start in the music business; I thought I was going to get this massive record deal, and then I didn’t. And I thought my life and career was over – no one would return my phone calls.

“Sarah (Sennett) heard my story and she said, ‘That’s terrible, I can’t let that happen to you’. Without her, I would probably have no career at all. She single-handedly convinced everyone in this room to take a chance on me.”

Idina Menzel was also a winner – she picked up the Billboard Breakthrough Honor.

Photo Credit:Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

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