Little Mix have made Brit Awards history as the first female band to win the Best British Band accolade
Expectant Little Mix stars Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock accepted the award alongside bandmate Jade Thirlwall.
The trio, who have been together for 10 years, thanked former bandmate Jesy Nelson and paid tribute to the Spice Girls, Sugababes and Girls Aloud.
As they accepted their award Edwards said: "Guys, we've just made history! I’m emotional."
Pinnock added: "It’s not easy being a female in the UK pop industry.
"We have seen white male dominance, misogyny, sexism and lack of diversity.
"We are proud of how we have stuck together, stood our ground and surrounded ourselves with strong women and are now using our voices more than ever."
It was their first Brit win without Nelson, who quit the X Factor-formed girl group in December, saying the high-profile role had "taken a toll" on her mental health.
This is the third Brit award for Little Mix after they won Best Single in 2017 for Shout Out To My Ex and Best Video in 2019 for Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj.
The Spice Girls applauded the win on Twitter, saying: "Congratulations @LittleMix Doing it for the Girls!!"
Congratulations @LittleMix Doing it for the Girls!! ✌🏻#BRITs #GirlPower
— Spice Girls (@spicegirls) May 11, 2021
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts wrote: "My girl band heart is so happy @LittleMix have just won best band @BRITs !!! The first girl band to ever be awarded it! Proud of you ladies !"
My girl band heart is so happy @LittleMix have just won best band @BRITs !!! The first girl band to ever be awarded it! Proud of you ladies ! ♥️ #girlpower
— Nicola Maria Roberts (@NicolaRoberts) May 11, 2021
Speaking on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony Thirlwall said a "massive thank you" to the band's fans, adding: "They are the most hardcore, supportive fans in the world and we literally wouldn’t be here tonight if it wasn’t for them."
Their historic win comes after Pinnock and Edwards announced surprise pregnancies this month, and the pair joked on stage that they had "baby brains".
Pinnock revealed she was expecting her first child with footballer fiance Andre Gray, sharing photos on Instagram in which she is seen cradling her baby bump.
The next week Edwards announced she and boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, also a footballer, were expecting, writing: "So happy to be on this wild journey with my soulmate."
