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Here's what you missed at the 2021 Brit Awards

Taylor and Olivia! Billy and Harry! Little Mix and their little bumps!
by Christine Estima
May 12, 2021 9:11 a.m. EST
Getty Images Getty Images

The Brit Awards were last night, and if you missed the biggest night in British music, you’ll be delighted to wake up and learn that women were smashing records and taking home all the awards. Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Little Mix took home top honours, and made sure that everyone knew their win was for all women.

Little Mix and 2021 Girl Power

The most powerful win and acceptance speech of the night goes to Little Mix, who became the first all-girl group to win the award for Best British Group in the show’s history -- a fact that was not lost on bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall.

“It's not easy being a female in the U.K. pop industry," Leigh-Anne said. "We've seen white male dominance, misogyny, sexism and lack of diversity. We're proud of how we've stuck together, stood our ground, surrounded ourselves with strong women, and are now using our voices more than ever."

Jade chimed in, "The fact that a girl band has never won this award really does speak volumes, so this award isn't just for us, it's for the Spice Girls, Sugababes, All Saints, Girls Aloud, all of the incredible female bands. This one's for you!"

Backstage in the press room, the trio added that shouting out all The Spice Girls and All Saints was important – nay, necessary -- for them, exclaiming, “In the past, they deserved to win that award also! We just wanted to point out all the incredible bands that came before us that haven’t received that award.”

This 2021 girl power just hits different. 

Perrie and Leigh-Anne also showed off their matching baby bumps on the red carpet which was supes adorbs. 

Taylor = Global Icon because duh

Taylor Swift also won big at the awards, taking home the night’s biggest honour, the Global Icon award (again, the first time a woman has ever won it!) and not only did she give an inspiring speech about sticking to your guns, she also made sure to lift up the next generation of women in music.

“There might be times when you put your whole heart and soul into something and it is met with cynicism or skepticism,” she said. “You cannot let that crush you; you have to let it fuel you because we live in a world where everybody has the right to say anything they want about you at any time. But just please remember, that you have the right to prove them wrong.”

Taylor Swift finally meets her biggest fan, Olivia Rodrigo

She then went on to embrace her biggest stan, “Driver’s Licence” singer Oliva Rodrigo. The cute photo of their interaction truly feels like it was meant to be, especially since it seems The Brit Awards Twitter account somehow manifested this meeting into being!

Dua Lipa is like the cutest winner ever

Dua Lipa, who has been having an incredible year, also won big, taking home both Female Solo Artist and Mastercard Album for her 2020 album, Future Nostalgia. She didn’t come to play, she came to slayyy.

And we are loving this backstage footage of Dua excitedly embracing her friends and colleagues after winning. She is genuinely the cutest and we can feel her excitement all the way from here!

Yes, Michelle Obama knows The Weeknd

Perhaps the most influential woman on earth, former US FLOTUS Michelle Obama, also had a hand in last night’s ceremony, by presenting Canada’s own superstar The Weeknd with the award for International Male Solo Artist.

Shouting out his donations to Black Lives Matter, and victims in Lebanon and Ethiopia, she exclaimed “he’s given us all a reason to dance.”

Plus, let’s not forget that the Obamas are huge The Weeknd fans, considering her husband Barack once sang in a viral video, “Can’t Feel My Face” . . . . kinda. But we digress…

The Scarborough, Ontario native, real name Abel Tesfaye, did THE.MOST.BRITISH.THING.EVER by standing in the pouring rain without an umbrella to accept his award. Give that man dual citizenship, pretty sure he’s a full-fledged Brit now.

Abel kept the poncho and wellington boots on for his performance of “Save Your Tears,” also in the rain. When the man picks a theme, he sticks with it!

Rina Sawayama makin' change and winning the carpet

Pop singer Rina Sawayama, who normally goes for a grunge-garage-punk look, stole the red carpet with her frothy violet Balmain dress that was just too gorgeous to be ignored.

Rina, who was up for the Rising Star award, also made history, as she had the rules to the Brits changed. Born in Japan and raised in the UK, she was previously ineligible because she didn’t hold a UK passport. After speaking out about it, and getting #SawayamaIsBritish trending on Twitter, the rules were changed. You love to see it. Also, please feast your eyes on this dress!

Billy Porter says "you're welcome" for Harry Styles

When it comes to mainstream celebrity men breaking clothing gender norms, Billy Porter did it first (and continues to do it so. damn. well.). On the red carpet ahead of the show, he shouted out Harry Style's Vogue cover where he famously and flawlessly wore a skirt and through gender normativity out the window. 

"I am seeing change! You know, Harry Styles on the cover of Vogue is change. You’re welcome!” he said.

Thank you, Billy. Thank you.

This cow... happened.

Last nights’ awards were so exciting, that every aspect of British life wanted in on the action, including the Twitter account for The Museum of English Rural Life.

Cow couture is a fire lewk. 

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