English singer-songwriter Dua Lipa on Sunday bested a crowded field of female talent to take home the Grammy for Best New Artist.
The synth-pop star beat out fellow Londoner Jorja Smith along with rising pop singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha and the enigmatic R&B performer H.E.R.
Lipa’s breakthrough came in 2016 with her first global hit “Hotter than Hell,” which she followed with “Blow Your Mind (Mwah),” which busted into the US Billboard Hot 100.
Her sixth single “New Rules,” which came off her self-titled debut studio album, was her first number one in Britain — and the first by a female solo artist to top the UK charts since 2015’s “Hello” by Adele.
“For anyone who hasn’t realized how special they are to have a different story, a different background, a name, and just want it be normal… just know that no matter your background, what you believe in, never let it get in the way of your dreams,” she said in accepting her award at the Staples Center.
The 23-year-old was born in London to parents who emigrated from Kosovo; her father moonlighted as a rocker in the Kosovar band Oda, in which he was lead vocalist.
She has said her second album will likely come out later this year, and cites shape-shifting pop icon Prince and southern hip-hop pioneers Outkast as major influences.
