British star Ella Mai said she was a “little girl from London, England” as she won the viewers’ choice prize for her song Trip at the Black Entertainment Television Awards in Los Angeles.
The ceremony celebrates black and ethnic minority entertainers in music, film, TV and sport.
Mai said: “This is proof that you let the music do the talking.”
The 24-year-old, who has gained popularity in the US thanks to breakout single Boo’d Up, saw off competition from the likes of Childish Gambino, Travis Scott and Drake.
Cardi B made BET history as she became the first ever female rapper to take home the album of the year award for Invasion of Privacy.
Travis Scott’s Astroworld, Meek Mill’s Championships, Ella Mai’s eponymous album and The Carters’ Everything Is Love were also nominated in the prestigious category.
The star, who opened the show with a performance alongside husband Offset, also picked up the trophy for female rapper of the year.
In her acceptance speech, Cardi addressed her triple platinum US record sales, telling the audience that “numbers don’t lie.”
“I’m glad I made an album that your sister, your mother, your grandmother, like it,” she added.
The family of the late Grammy-nominated hip-hop star Nipsey Hussle, below, accepted a humanitarian award on his behalf for his “commitment to social change”. He was killed in the city in March.
Rihanna, recently named the world’s richest female musician, presented the lifetime achievement award to Mary J Blige, thanking her for opening “multiple doors for female artists in this industry”.
