Inside Glamour's 2023 Women Of The Year Awards
Last night, Glamour hosted its annual Women of the Year Awards, celebrating this year s honorees—actor and author Brooke Shields, actor, writer, and show-runner Quinta Brunson, actor and singer Mary J. Blige, model and transgender advocate Geena Rocero, and actor, author, and advocate Selma Blair (all of whom are featured on special digital covers). This year s celebration also included the first-ever global Women of the Year honorees, actors Millie Bobby Brown and America Ferrera. The actors were recently featured on digital covers across Glamour editions in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain, and Mexico.
Guests gathered at Jazz in Lincoln Center, wearing a black tie dress code that highly encouraged wearing women designers. Before the evening s festivities kicked off, Glamour editor in chief Samantha Barry caught up with Vogue to shed light on the importance of the annual awards and the thoughtful process of making the celebration a reality. "We think about our Women Of The Year (WOTY) honorees all year. The Glamour editorial team connects with our WOTY advisory board, which comprises former WOTY honorees, to discuss who we should consider honoring," said Barry, wearing Mexican-born and California-based designer Alexia Maria. "The process for us is a collective one because we want the group to represent a lot—We want them to be cross-generational, from different industries and backgrounds."
After walking the WOTY red carpet, partygoers strolled upstairs to The Appel Room, where the ceremony would soon begin. Attendees took their seats in the elegant Greek Amphitheater-inspired setting, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle. The evening kicked off with introductions from host and comedian Michelle Buteau, followed by an acoustic performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Maggie Rogers.
“With performing in front of women specifically, I just wanted to bring the most truthful and vulnerable version of the music that I make—So it s just me and a guitar playing my song,” Rogers told Vogue. "I m so honored that I get to open the show. It s s crazy just to step onstage in front of all these powerful women." Between stand-up comedy segments by Buteau, she and DJ Domo welcomed each presenter—personal champions and loved ones of their respective honorees.
Ayo Edebiri took to the stage to present the WOTY award to her dear friend, Quinta Brunson, describing her as both a "brilliant genius" in all of her work, a masterful trash-talker ( a skill used only, of course, when deservedly so), and fierce friend. Joking that her parents initially thought she would be a clown when she first started her comedy career, Brunson spoke of the importance of self advocation and the personal impact she hopes to have on young black girls who see her in the media.
"Now in this era where things are moving so fast, so actually being at an event like this where I get to really feel the impact of receiving such a huge honor is incredible," Brunson told Vogue, wearing a black Versace gown. "I hope that others—especially little girls, little comedian girls, little black girls, little short girls—get to look at me and this moment and feel that they are okay in this world."
Next up, actor Chloë Grace Moretz presented her mentor, Selma Blair, with the WOTY Daring to Disrupt award—the duo first met when Blair played Moretz s onscreen mother in 2008. While accepting her award, Blair spoke of her disability journey and the women within her community who have uplifted her along the way. "Women have always been the people who have changed me. And when there is a woman that takes the time to be my mentor or teach me something, those have been life lessons.I realize more and more that this connectedness is what saves us," Blair told Vogue, wearing an Isaac Mizrahi dress and custom embroidered sweater with the names of women who inspire her. "We can wear our hearts on our sleeves or our sweaters to give deference to the people who have changed us. These women came before me in disability rights, including Judy Heumann. She started the ADA and organized everything for the sit-ins and the rehabilitation acts. All the other people on this sweater have gathered so much strength, hope, and experience from her; they ve taught me and welcomed me."
Next, designer Aurora James presented model and trans activist Geena Rocero with her WOTY award. "I was someone who for many years was living stealth where nobody knew I was trans. When I finally shared my story with the world, I knew that it represented something bigger to my community, and it was my way to honor the trans community in the Philippines who have always supported me. Speaking about issues that concern my community is my sense of purpose," Rocero told Vogue. The third presenter, Dorothea Bongiovi, presented her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Millie Bobby Brown, with her WOTY award, listing the actor s many accomplishments at a young age and describing her as wickedly fun. Brown spoke of gratitude to her family for encouraging her acting dreams, overcoming rejection, and never allowing others to box her in.
Next, two-thirds of the lively famous friendship trio, producer Ali Wentworth and actor Mariska Hargitay, presented the WOTY award to their best friend, Brooke Shields. During her acceptance speech, Shields expressed how she had finally learned to love herself and value her individual worth. "I always share with my daughters the importance of not losing sight of themselves—don t give [pieces of yourself] away to be liked, to be accepted, or to be anything other than who you are," Shields told Vogue, sharing her advice for young women. "Hold onto who you are. Hold the people in your life you love. Hold the important women in your life close to you because they will be there for you. I don t think I knew that as a child."
As the awards ended, attendees eagerly awaited the final two honorees. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton presented the WOTY award for their family friend and campaign supporter, America Ferrera. The Barbie star spoke of Secretary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton as sources of inspiration in overcoming obstacles. Ferrera also paid homage to one of her guests, Christy Haubegger, the creator of Latina Magazine, who inspired her from a young age by creating a platform for the Latinx community.
