Demi Lovato has no rules when it comes to being a rulebreaker.
“It’s not intentional and that’s what’s awesome – people see it,” said Lovato upon receiving the inaugural “Rulebreaker” award at Billboard’s Women in Music event on Dec. 11 at Cipriani Midtown in New York. “I’m excited to show people you can be yourself and people will appreciate it.”
Billboard Women in Music 2015: Photos From the Red Carpet
The “Confiden”t singer spoke to the room of music executives after delivering a powerful performance of her breakup ballad “Stone Cold.”
“I’m not a public speaker by any means, I’m a singer, and so this might be a little awkward,” she said nervously, but thankful for the award “because for the first time in my life and my career, I’ve grown to know who I am as a person and as an artist”
Lovato spoke candidly about not fitting in when she was younger, punching a boy in the face who said “Girls suck!” and praying with her band before performances that their collaboration will inspire just one person.
The award was presented to Lovato by Fifth Harmony and featured video comments by Nick Jonas.
Billboard Women in Music 2015 airs on Lifetime, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.