A wave of Latin artists took over the 2025 Premios Juventud that were hosted in Panama City on Thursday night (Sept. 25), marking the first time the awards were presented outside the United States.
Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month and under the theme “evolving to the rhythm of music,” this year’s move “reinforces TelevisaUnivision’s commitment to honoring the strength, values and traditions of Latin American communities,” according to a statement shared with Billboard.
Bad Bunny and Danny Ocean lead this year’s nominations with six nods each, followed by the five-time nominees Anitta, Beéle, Carín León, Emilia, Myke Towers, Netón Vega and Peso Pluma. Traditionally, the nominations salute today’s youth in music, television, social media, streaming and pop culture with an eligibility period from May 31, 2024, to June 1, 2025, and the winners are determined by popular vote.
Meanwhile, Carlos Vives and Myke Towers were recognized as this year’s Agents of Change. Vives for his dedication to cultural and community development through his Tras La Perla Foundation, and Towers for his work with the Young Kingz Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering vulnerable communities.
On television, artists such as Maluma, Camilo, Grupo Firme, Marc Anthony, Bad Gyal, Gloria Trevi, and Sech, to name a few, graced the stage with their vibrant performances, and at the same time, Billboard was catching all the action at the blue carpet that fans didn’t watch on TV.
Below, check out some of the action that happened behind the scenes.
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Grupo Firme Gushes Over Gloria Trevi
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}Grupo Firme, who nabbed the Best Mexican Banda Music award for “El Beneficio De La Duda,” not only visited Panama for the first time, but also gushed over their performance of “Súfrale” with Gloria Trevi. “She is a very respectable lady but she is very easy-going, we had a great time,” frontman Eduin Caz said at the blue carpet. His brother, Jhonny Caz, agreed: “She can easily form part of Grupo Firme, she matches our vibe.”
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Bad Gyal is an Honorary Latina
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}Ahead of her performance of “Da Me” at the 2025 Premios Juventud, Bad Gyal talked about feeling like an honorary Latina. “I’m a big fan of Latin music and from the Caribbean since I was little,” she told Billboard. “It’s the music I’ve connected with the most. For me it is something very physical, very corporal, and it entered by body since I was very little.” The Spanish artist said her favorite reggaetón artists are DY (formerly known as Daddy Yankee) and Don Omar.
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Kenia Os’ Obsession with Perfumes
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}At the blue carpet, where she talked about her recent experience at New York Fashion Week with artist boyfriend Peso Pluma, Kenia Os also teased her upcoming studio album, inspired by one of her obsessions. “I’m working on my new album, ‘Mi Perfume,’ which is about to come out,” she said. “I’m just finishing the final details. It’s coming out really nice; it smells delicious. I’m the biggest perfume fan; I own like 150!” The Mexican pop star won the girl power award for “En 4,” her collaboration with Anitta.
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Eddie Lover Talks Karol G
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}Eddie Lover expressed his love and gratitude for Karol G at the Premios Juventud blue carpet. “It was a blessing,” the Panamanian artist said of their collaboration “Dile Luna.” “A lot of people were confused, they thought it was a remix [of my original song] ‘Luna,” but no, it was totally brand new. I feel very grateful to Karol for inviting me to participate in her ‘Tropicoqueta’ album.”
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De La Ghetto Gives Panama its Flowers
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}While some might debate where if reggaetón music has its roots in Puerto Rico or Panama, De La Ghetto arrived at the blue carpet to give his opinion. “The first reggae song in Spanish was El General,” the Puerto Rican artist said before singing a bit of “Te Ves Buena.” “I was a kid in second grade. What Nando Boom, Renato, and El Rookie did later evolved in Puerto Rico, but reggae in Spanish, reggaeton, its beginnings, were in Panama, and then Jamaica.”