Estelle was at the ceremony just a day before a concert in California
Pop stars Estelle and Leona Lewis have each won two prizes at the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards in London.
Estelle picked up best UK female and best song, for her hit American Boy.
Lewis won best album for Spirit and best video for Bleeding Love. But she was absent, as was rapper Dizzee Rascal, who was named best UK male.
"It's a shame that their schedules and their touring didn't allow for them to be here," Mobo organiser Kanya King said. "Hey, there's always next year."
The Mobos is the biggest award ceremony in British urban music, attracting names from R&B, hip-hop and beyond.
In the past it has been criticised for struggling to attract US superstars, but this year it was missing two of the three main British winners.
Estelle was the biggest victor present at Wembley Arena on Wednesday.
"The Mobo is a great award, recognised by the kids and the people who understand my music, and who get the music that we do," she told BBC News.
British black music was "on the up", she added. "If I'm anything to go by, it's definitely on the up."
Find out what the stars of this years MOBOS think of the lineup.
Estelle performed with US soul star John Legend, who revived her career by signing her to his record label.
But she had little time to celebrate her awards, with a flight at 0600 the next morning to perform in Anaheim, California.
There were boos from some in the crowd when they realised Leona Lewis was not at the ceremony.
Estelle said: "You know what, they do that every year for everyone when people don't turn up.
"But I don't think that takes away from the fact that she's a great artist and she deserved the awards she got."
Despite the absentees, organisers billed this year's ceremony as a celebration of the success of urban UK acts in the past 12 months.
Kanya King, who started the Mobos in 1996, said it had been a "vintage year" for British artists.
"Estelle deserves her victory," she said. "She's shining not only in this country but in America as well, and we're really proud of her."
The focus had moved from US superstars to homegrown talent, King said.
"It has and deservedly so. We've had number ones from so many of the British artists and they deserve their place now, and you can see the public can't get enough of them."
Soul II Soul legend Jazzie B told BBC News: "We've finished with America now.
"It's very important in terms of where it all started and how it all evolved, but here we are now cutting our own grooves."
US winners included US R&B heartthrob Chris Brown, who was named best international act and best soul artist, and Lil' Wayne, who won best hip-hop.
Grace Jones presented the award for best song to Estelle
But neither made it to the ceremony.
The lifetime achievement award was given to the legendary Detroit record label Motown, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.
The honour was accepted by The Supremes singer Mary Wilson, who performed a medley of hits as well as a collaboration with current girl group Sugababes.
"I do believe that The Supremes have really influenced people like the Sugababes and Beyonce's group," she said.
"We were the model that they used, and that's a great accolade."
The best newcomer award went to 18-year-old east London MC Chipmunk.
He said his idols when growing up were not British or American, but Jamaican dancehall acts like Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and Sean Paul.
"I went from youth club to pirate radio to legal radio to mixtapes to singles to here," he said.
BBC Radio 1's Trevor Nelson picked up the best radio DJ prize, while Tim Westwood was named best club DJ. All winners were decided by a public vote.
Craig David, Flo Rida and Taio Cruz also performed at the ceremony, which was hosted by Spice Girl Mel B and Run DMC's Rev Run.
Highlights will be shown on BBC One on Saturday, 18 October, at 2350 BST.