Liniker’s Latin Grammy Triumph: A Black Trans Star Rewrites Music History

If you felt the earth shift beneath your feet last night, you weren’t alone—Latin music had a tectonic moment. At the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards, Liniker, the electrifying Brazilian singer-songwriter, took home three golden gramophones, shattering records and ceilings to become the most-awarded trans woman in Latin Grammy history. It was more than a win; it was a watershed for every LGBTQ+ person who’s yearned to see themselves not just welcomed, but celebrated, at the world’s biggest cultural stages .

The crowd’s reaction was thunderous. Liniker, draped in shimmering fabric and radiating a kind of joy that only comes from fighting for every inch, accepted her first trophy of the night for Best Portuguese Language Song with “Veludo Marrom.” As the house lights glimmered, she addressed the audience—and the world beyond—with a message that resonated far past the boundaries of the awards show: “May our stories be told more and more” .

For Liniker, this night wasn’t a lucky break or a quirk of trends—it was the result of years of dedication, artistry, and resilience. She first made history in 2022, becoming the first out trans artist to win a Latin Grammy for her debut solo album, “Indigo Borboleta Anil” . That album, a kaleidoscope of samba, bossa nova, and R&B, was lauded not just for its technical excellence, but for the way it reframed Black, queer, and trans experiences in Brazilian music .

Liniker’s ascent is deeply personal and profoundly political. Her songs, filled with longing, intimacy, and the radical act of self-love, offer a vision of Latin music where Black trans women are not the exception, but the expectation. In her own words: “What a giant, important and significant space the record of my dreams reached. This award is the result of a lot of dedication, work and a wonderful team that built all of this with me. I’m immensely happy!” .

These wins are about more than numbers or shiny statuettes—they’re about shifting the narrative for an entire generation. In a year when anti-trans legislation and bigotry remain rampant, Liniker’s global recognition sends an unequivocal message: Black trans artistry belongs at the heart of culture, not its margins .

Her rise is inseparable from the wider renaissance of gender-expansive and queer artists shaking up Latin pop, including icons like Linn da Quebrada, Urias, Arca, and Villano Antillano . But Liniker’s visibility, her voice, and the emotional clarity of her writing—especially in tracks like “Lili” and “Baby 95”—have made her a beacon for LGBTQ+ Latinx fans worldwide.

For many, seeing Liniker command the stage at São Paulo’s Espaço Unimed to sold-out crowds, or headline New York City’s Lincoln Center, wasn’t just entertainment—it was affirmation . Each performance becomes a communal celebration and a private confessional, where Black trans joy is not only possible but gloriously real.

Liniker’s 2025 triple win brings her career Latin Grammy tally to four, but numbers can’t capture the cultural magnitude of her victory . Her latest album, “Caju,” scored seven nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year, signaling broad support from her industry peers and a hunger for stories that have too often been left off the main stage .

“Caju” itself is a marvel—a concept album that traces a 24-hour lover’s chase from Japan to Brazil, all underscored by Liniker’s signature vulnerability and hopefulness . As she told Brazilian journalist Pedro Bial, this project is less about self-discovery and more about the narrative tapestry of love, longing, and the audacity to dream.

For queer audiences—especially Black and trans listeners—her victory is a moment to exhale, to dance, and to imagine ourselves, not in the shadows, but in the spotlight. Liniker’s music is the soundtrack to a future where LGBTQ+ stories aren’t just allowed—they’re indispensable.

Liniker’s story is still being written, but one thing is certain: she’s not just winning awards—she’s making space. For every queer kid who’s ever felt invisible, for every Black trans woman who’s ever been told to wait her turn, Liniker’s win is a declaration: the future is already here, and it’s singing our song .