News : Mariah Carey urges fans to embrace 'fabulousness' at 2025 BET Awards

Mariah Carey called on fans to "always be iconic" while receiving a prestigious prize at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday night.

At the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Busta Rhymes presented the superstar with the Ultimate Icon Award.

"Mariah, she is not only an icon culturally for all of us, but she is the blueprint for hip-hop pop collabs before it was even cool," he praised. "If you wanted a ballad, she got you. If you need a bop and a bounce, no problem."

Taking to the stage, Carey shared her excitement over receiving her first-ever BET Award.

"This means so much, especially coming from BET. If you're gonna get one, might as well start with the Ultimate Icon Award," she joked, before praising her fellow honourees. "But really, it's incredible to be here alongside Kirk Franklin, Jamie Foxx, and Snoop (Dogg), I love you guys. Congratulations."

Carey then went on to encourage fans to believe in themselves.

"My life and career have been quite the adventure. I will spare you the long, drawn-out saga tonight. It's all in my book anyway," the Hero hitmaker continued. "It took me a while, but I finally realised life is far too short to live for anyone else's approval, which is something I always did. So, I decided to own who I am. My extra-ness, my fabulousness... and yes, my success, and my iconic-ness. I'm so grateful for you all to celebrate it with me tonight. Thank you so much. I just want to encourage everyone out there to believe in yourself. Love and respect yourself. Be a diva, be a boss, be anything you wanna be. But be iconic while you're doing it."

Earlier in the evening, Carey took to the stage to perform her new single, Type Dangerous.

Kendrick Lamar swept the competitive categories at the show, taking home Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Album of the Year for GNX.