From Caribbean 360

Barbados’ pop princess ruled the American Music Awards, taking home the inaugural Icon award at the age of 25 and bagging the Best Soul/R&B Female Artist crown.

CALIFORNIA, United States, Wednesday November 27, 2013 – Barbados’ megastar Rihanna has already amassed a formidable collection of awards and accolades, but on Sunday night in Los Angeles the pop princess ruled as the winner of the first-ever Icon Award at the American Music Awards

The inaugural trophy was presented by her mother Monica Braithwaite, who honoured her famous daughter with a few heartfelt words.

“I know the journey and your career has not always been an easy one, but tonight I applaud and admire you for being so strong and so positive and so humble and so focused. . .  I’m so blessed to be part of this historic moment,” Brathwaite said.

Comedian and social commentator Bill Maher, who took the stage to emcee the proceedings at the time of the presentation, commented: “She has become, I think, the voice of our time.”

A montage of the multiple Grammy Award-winner’s accomplishments, including a sound bite of Jay Z stating that he knew there was something special about Rihanna from the time he met her, followed.

The video tribute also featured highlights of her career, including achieving the status of best-selling digital artist of all time, her social media numbers and quote from artist Damien Hirst, who claimed that the singer’s strength is making a generation of strong women.

Wearing a long black dress with a deep plunge neckline, accessorized with diamond-studded hair ornaments and a matching neckpiece, Rihanna then performed her hit single “Diamonds” from her most recent studio album “Unapologetic.”

The “Talk That Talk” girl also used the opportunity to reminisce about her childhood in Barbados.

“Thank you so much,” she said. Turning to her mother, she continued, “I’ll start by saying just about 20 years ago is when I really started making your life a living hell with my ‘annoying little husky man voice,’ you’d call it. And I mean just disrupting the entire neighbourhood. . . I annoyed every one of my neighbours.”

She then fast-forwarded a decade to the audition that landed her the record deal that eventually led her to her mentor Jay Z.

After expressing her gratitude to a number of people including Jay Z and producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, the Bajan songbird ended her speech on a note of disbelief.

“I can’t believe that at 25 years old I’m holding an Icon award,” she said.

Rihanna clinched a night to remember by also taking home the Best Soul/R&B Female Artist award.

Taylor Swift was the night’s biggest winner, bagging four awards including top honour Artist of the Year for the third time. Justin Timberlake trailed Swift with three.

The main AMA winners list follows:

Artist of the year: Taylor Swift

New artist of the year: Ariana Grande

Single of the year: “Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly

Pop/rock female artist: Taylor Swift

Pop/rock male artist: Justin Timberlake

Pop/rock band, duo or group: One Direction

Pop/rock album: “Take Me Home,” One Direction

Country female artist: Taylor Swift

Country male artist: Luke Bryan

Country band, duo or group: Lady Antebellum

Country album: “Red,” Taylor Swift

Rap/hip-hop artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Rap/hip-hop album: “The Heist,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Soul/R&B female artist: Rihanna

Soul/R&B male artist: Justin Timberlake

Soul/R&B album: “The 20/20 Experience,” Justin Timberlake

Alternative rock artist: Imagine Dragons

Latin artist: Marc Anthony

Adult Contemporary: Maroon 5

Electronic dance music artist: Avicii

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