Brit Awards 2021: Dua Lipa and Little Mix top winners as Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance | Ents & Arts News

Female artists topped this year’s Brit Awards, with Little Mix and Dua Lipa among the big winners and Taylor Swift making a surprise appearance – in a ceremony that saw artists calling for sexism and lack of diversity in the music industry.

Many winners at the show – the UK’s first major indoor live music event in over a year, held without masks and social distancing as part of a COVID-19[female[feminine test program – also paid tribute to key workers in their acceptance speeches, with Lipa calling on Boris Johnson to improve wages.

For Small mix, the night made history, as they became the first girl group in 41 years British to win the best group award.

Lipa was named Best Female Solo Artist and also won Best Album for Future Nostalgia, while brother trio Haim was named Best International Group and Arlo Parks won the Breakthrough Award.

And rather than appearing virtually, the American superstar Taylor Swift took the stage in person to receive her previously announced Global Icon Award.

The event, which drew an audience of 4,000 – including 2,500 key employees – marked the return of live music to the O2 Arena in London after 14 months.

In their speech, Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall paid tribute to Spice Girls and Girls Aloud, saying they couldn’t believe the award had never been presented to a girl group before.

“Guys, we just made history! I’m moved,” Edwards said.

“It’s not easy being a woman in the UK pop industry,” Pinnock added. “We have seen white male domination, misogyny, sexism and the 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 …