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Apart from the iconic Jane Fonda presenting international hero Greta Thunberg with one of the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards last night, there were a few other moments and outfits worthy of your attention.
Fellow honoree, American soccer star Megan Rapinoe, took the time to thank another American icon when accepting her award. “…While I’m enjoying all of this unprecedented—and, frankly, a little bit uncomfortable—attention and personal success, in large part due to my activism off the field, Colin Kaepernick is still effectively banned from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of known and systematic police brutality against people of color, known and systematic racial injustice, and known and systematic white supremacy,” Rapinoe said. “It would be a slap in the face to Colin, and to so many other faces, not to acknowledge, and for me personally, to work relentlessly to dismantle that system that benefits some over the detriment of others, and frankly is quite literally tearing us apart in this country.”
Margaret Atwood, legendary Canadian author of The Handmaid’s Tale and first-time wearer of false eyelashes pointed to Greta Thunberg as a beacon of hope. “You hardly need my words of encouragement, young women, because you are creating your own words and encouraging one another,” she said. “Because of you, we oldies have hope for the real world. So go for it.”
Charlize Theron, soon to star as Fox news anchor Megyn Kelly in the film Bombshell, gave another powerhouse speech. “Go tell your story. Be proud of it. Don’t worry about everyone liking you. It’s impossible. Wash your face, even when you’re really tired at night. Take risks. Radiate empathy like you’ve got a tap of it. Fight for change. Because it’s people, especially girls, who have the power to create change.”
Film director and fellow honoree Ava DuVernay spoke about the need to dismantle the institutions that have held women back.
“So much of our conversation as women is about the table needing the chair for us, the glass ceiling we must break, the door we are going to go through and hold open for others. I believe in all of that,” she said.
“I also believe in making our own doors, disrupting all systems built in such a way that inclusion is even needed in the first place. My truth is I don’t want a chair at the table. Or even three or even half anymore. I want the table to be rebuilt. In my likeness. And in the likeness of others long forced out of the room.”
Basically, it was a long night of fabulous style and inspirational awesomeness and we wish we were there to bask in it but Glamour has kindly posted the speeches in full on their site. Make them required reading.
