Dua Lipa Secures the ‘British Album of the Year’ Award

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English singer, Dua Lipa won the coveted ‘British Album of the Year’ prize at the Brit Awards ceremony that saw female artistes dominate the mixed categories. The Brit Awards have been criticized in the past for biased and gendered nominations, but this year, almost all of the main prizes went to female artistes.

Details on the Event

Around 4,000 guests streamed into London’s O2 Arena for the biggest night in British pop music, as the ceremony welcomed guests for the first time in two years as part of the government’s pilot scheme easing coronavirus restrictions. Little Mix won best British group, becoming the first female act to do so. Singer and poet Arlo Parks took the Breakthrough Artist award and best international group went to American band, Haim.

In another history-making moment, Taylor Swift became the first female winner of the global icon award for what organizers said was “her immense impact on music across the world, and incredible repertoire and achievements”.

Dua Lipa’s Victory

With her album Future Nostalgia, 25-year-old Dua Lipa -who has won three Brit Awards previously- beat soul singer Celeste, Parks and rapper J Hus, who was the only male contender in the best album category. Dua Lipa and J Hus were also named best female and male solo artiste respectively.

“Last time I was up here accepting this award in 2018, I said I wanted to see more women on these stages,” Dua Lipa said. “I feel so proud that three years later, we’re seeing that happen. It really is such an honor to be a part of this wave of women in music.” She dedicated one of her awards to British nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, noting that the nurse had previously said “there’s a massive disparity between gratitude and respect for front-line workers, because it’s very good to clap for them, but we need to pay them”.

Other winners included Harry Styles, who won best British single for Watermelon Sugar, and Billie Eilish and The Weeknd, who won Best International Female and Male Artiste respectively. Coldplay kicked off the show with a performance on the River Thames. Dua Lipa performed live, sporting a Union Jack miniskirt and an upswept hairdo reminiscent of the late singer Amy Winehouse.