It was a formidable line-up of nominees. Ed Sheeran, Khalid, Lil Nas X, Post Malone and Shawn Mendes were up for Choice Male Artist at the recent Teen Choice Awards. But I had a feeling that Mendes would win. The guy just suddenly got so piping hot these days. And he did win.
I know Mendes has already had several hit recordings since he was discovered as a social media sensation from Canada. Among these were Stitches and Treat You Better. But he just seemed ordinary, bland, uninteresting these past years.
Not anymore. Mendes is now incredibly attractive and sexy. Some say it is all due to maturity. He is older. I say though that it is because of his association with the fiery Camila Cabello of Havana fame. I really find it amazing how having a beautiful girl beside him can change one’s impression of a man.
The Mendes-Cabello collab of Señorita is one of the biggest selling tunes of the moment. In fact, it is No. 1 in the hit charts of the Philippines. Rumors have it that the two are dating and might soon become the newest and I say also the youngest power couple of the music biz. I am sure that they can look forward to another win next year for Choice Collab.
Hopefully, unlike this year, they will be present to get their Surfboards. Mendes skipped the event. He was said to be celebrating his 21st birthday with Cabello in New York City.
The Teen Choice Awards is the award-giving organization wherein the winners are chosen by kids aged 13 and adults with votes cast online. And the winners get the much coveted custom-made surfboard.
Taylor Swift got a very special one painted with a picture of her pet kitties as the winner of the very first Teen Choice Icon Award. So did the Jonas Brothers as the Teen Choice of the Decade. Sweetest winner of all though was Robert Downey Jr., as the Choice Action Movie Actor for Avengers: Endgame. He accepted his surfboard trophy accompanied by kids in Iron Man costumes. It was truly a We Love You 3,000 moment.
Avengers: Endgame was the top choice movie winner with four awards. Also with four wins, the series Riverdale topped the television category. Disney’s Aladdin came in next with three including one for Will Smith as Sci-Fi Fantasy Movie Actor and the Choice Sci-Fi Fantasy Movie.
The winners were announced in a live presentation last Aug. 11 in a fun show befitting the Teen Choice summer theme at the Hermosa Beach in California.
Here goes the list of nominees:
• Choice Male Artist: Shawn Mendes.
• Female Artist: Billie Eilish.
• Music Group: Why Don’t We.
• Country Artist: Dan + Shay.
• Latin Artist: CNCO.
• R&B/Hip-Hop Artist: Cardi B.
• Rock Artist: Panic! At The Disco.
• Song (Female Artist): Lauren Jauregui, Expectations.
• Song (Male Artist): Louis Tomlinson.
• Song (Group): Blackpink, DDU-DU DDU-DU.
• Pop Song: Ariana Grande, thank u, next.
• Country Song: Dan + Shay, Speechless.
• Electronic/Dance Song: Ellie Goulding, Diplo & Red Velvet, Close To Me (Red Velvet Remix).
• Latin Song: CNCO, Pretend.
• R&B/Hip-Hop Song: Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, Old Town Road (Billy Ray Cyrus Remix).
• Rock Song: Panic! At The Disco, Hey Look Ma, I Made It.
• Breakout Artist: Billie Eilish.
• International Artist: BTS.
• Collaboration: BTS ft. Halsey, Boy with Luv.
As for the winners in the Social Media, Movies and Television and even Sports category, I recommend that you check out their names online or watch the awards presentation. Watching will give you the chance to get acquainted with the young people whose lives are now an inspiration to others like sports stars Stephen Curry and Serena Williams.
Also like Alex Morgan, the lovely co-captain of the World Cup winning National American Soccer team now a symbol of the crusade for gender equality or YouTuber David Dobrick, who because of his millions of followers was tapped to host the Teen Choice Awards with Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale.
There were also the Jonas Brothers who spoke about their bullying experiences or Crazy Rich Asian’s star Ken Jeong about diversity in showbusiness or star skateboarder Sky Brown on reaching for one’s dreams and other feel good moments.