Alicia Villarreal performs at Fiesta Edinburg 2025. | Photo: Isaac Castillo / Tejano Nation
Nuevo León, Mexico — Música Mexicana icon Alicia Villarreal was honored with the prestigious Trofeo Regio 2025 on Wednesday night (April 30), as the award celebrated its 25th anniversary on the grounds of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) in San Nicolás de los Garza, just outside Monterrey. The Trofeo Regio (Royal Award) recognizes exceptional residents of Nuevo León across ten categories, including Music Promotion, Education, Public Service, and Culture. Villarreal, a two-time Latin Grammy winner, received the award for her contributions to the promotion of music and cultural heritage.
In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Villarreal expressed deep gratitude for the recognition: “I have no words to express how I felt to receive this recognition! Thank you from the heart for valuing my path and for recognizing the love I have always had for Monterrey and for our people. This earth watched me grow, inspired me, shaped me… and is still the driving force of everything I do. This award is for everyone who believes in their roots and wears them proudly wherever they go!”
The ceremony also recognized other influential Nuevo León figures including Elena María R de Falcón, architect Helios Albalate Olana, politician Alejandro Chapa Salazar, and journalist Armando Fuentes “Catón,” among others. In his opening remarks, Trofeo Regio General Director Leopoldo Espinosa Benavides celebrated the resilience and ambition of the honorees, stating: “Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with one’s hands in one’s pockets. Some of the award winners may have been criticized when they were just starting to take off, because their critics saw them as increasingly smaller, but it’s because they didn’t know how to fly.”
The recognition comes in the same week Alicia Villarreal released two new live duet tracks with fellow Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido. The performances—“Besos Y Copas” and “Le Pediré”—are featured on the highly anticipated live concert album, Bobby and Friends – Una Tuya y Una Mía. Villarreal is currently on the road with her Donde Todo Comenzó 2.0 tour, bringing her beloved music to fans across Mexico and the United States.
About Alicia Villarreal
Born Martha Alicia Villarreal Esparza in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Alicia Villarreal rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the regional Mexican band Grupo Límite in the mid-1990s. Known for her powerhouse vocals and charismatic stage presence, Villarreal launched a successful solo career in the early 2000s. With multiple Latin Grammy Awards and numerous chart-topping hits, she remains one of the most influential female voices in Tejano and regional Mexican music.
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