In the 23 years since the Best Rap Album award was introduced at the Grammys, just five solo women have been nominated for it - Eve, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea and, this year, Cardi B.

But at the Sunday night’s Grammys, Cardi B went one step further and made history by becoming the first solo woman to win the prize, for her album Invasion of Privacy.

She beat Nipsey Hussle, Pusha T, Travis Scott and the late Mac Miller.

Accepting her award, a tearful Cardi B spoke about being pregnant while making the album, and the difficulties that presented.

“I want to thank my daughter,” she said. “I’m not just saying thank you because she’s my daughter.

“It’s because, you know, when I found out I was pregnant, my album was not complete, like three songs that I was for sure having. And then you know, you know how it was, we was like, we have to get this album done so I could still do videos while I’m still not showing. And it was very long nights.”

The only other woman to win the Best Rap Album Grammy is Lauryn Hill, who won it as part of The Fugees in 1997.

Cardi B has been receiving a lot of attention for things other than her music in recent weeks, as she spoke up about the US government shutdown and clapped back at Twitter trolls who say she doesn’t empower women.

But the focus has now rightfully returned to her music, and in becoming the first solo woman to win the Best Rap Album award, Cardi B has not just empowered women, she’s broken a glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry.

Images: Getty Images for The Recording Academy