WITH a new cropped hair and her husband Matteo Guidicelli with her, pop princess Sarah Geronimo received her Billboard Women in Music Global Force Award at the YouTube Theater at Inglewood, California Thursday night in Manila.

“I humbly accept this award on behalf of every excellent Filipino artist back home,” Sarah said in her acceptance speech. “For me, this recognition signifies courage and hope.

Courage to accept and embrace one’s self and the courage to break boundaries and rise above all the setback and challenges that every artist needs to face. And the hope that one day, this meaningful moment will bridge the gap between the Philippines and other nations, collaborating, uniting as one to create change and positivity in the world through music.

“Once again, I am Sarah Geronimo from the Philippines. Mabuhay and OPM (Original Pilipino Music). Maraming, maraming salamat po,” Sarah said in her speech.

On Twitter, Matteo shared a photo of Sarah with her award. “Raising the Filipino flag very high this evening,” he captioned the trophy.

Sarah was flown to the US with her husband, to attend the awards night.

The popular singer-actress is the first Filipina to accept an award at a Billboard Women in Music event.

“It’s very unexpected, I mean, to be considered a global force,” Sarah declared. “For me, a global force means having the power to influence people. And it also comes with big responsibility, right?

“You have to be mindful with the materials that you are going to put out there. So you have to create change and positivity towards other people.”

Sarah also expressed her thought on being part of a global event championing women.

“Women are beautiful and women are strong,” Sarah emphasized. “Now that I a married, I understand how marriage can be difficult at times. Men are beautiful, as well. I mean, the way they manage and cope up with everything that goes on with our minds as women.

“But women, especially mothers out there, shoutout to my mother, Mommy Divine Geronimo, you are the best. You are my hero. I love you very much.

“I mean, I cannot imagine myself being a mother, all the sacrifices that a mother has to do for her child, it’s mind-blowing,” Sarah said.

“It means having the power to influence people and it also comes with a big responsibility,” read the Billboard post. #JustSarahG speaks about being a Global Force honoree at the Billboard Women in Music awards.

In an interview before accepting her award, Sarah said she is truly honored to represent the Philippines at the Billboard event.

She also gave a shoutout to her mother, Divine, whom she called a “hero” at the event which champions women in music.

Sarah continues to respect her mother even after their misunderstanding four years ago, when she tied the knot with Matteo without the knowledge of her parents.

Sarah will be joined by 12 other women in the music industry at the annual event, with Karol G as Woman of the Year, Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX, Ice Spice and New Jeans among other honorees.

Fans of Sarah expressed their support to the Tala hitmaker as the hashtag, “GlobalForceSarahG trended on X (formerly Twitter).