Last night, GLAMOUR's Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Ring, returned in all its feministy glory.
At the event's 18th anniversary, we celebrated a glorious line-up of game-changers – including Pamela Anderson, Jodie Turner-Smith, Simone Ashley and Chloë Bailey – who are all using their immense talent and influence to make the world a better place for women.
Taking place at Raffles London at the OWO, Katherine Ryan kicked off the Women of the Year awards with a raucous speech calling for men to step the hell up in the fight for gender equality.
Next up, GLAMOUR's European Editorial Director, Deborah Joseph, reflected on the many wins for feminism in the past year, as well as highlighting all the work that still needs to be done, saying, “This is the 4th year I've hosted Women of the Year, and interestingly, this is the first year no one has questioned the need for a women-only event. Maybe that’s because we all know that we’re nowhere near the equality we all wish for.”
She’s been a world-famous sex symbol, an icon of pop culture since the '90s – and now Pamela Anderson is also honoured as one of GLAMOUR’s two Global Women of the Year. Here, she opens up to Emily Maddick about her new era, past mistakes, the lasting impact of the sex tape scandal, what she feels about Donald Trump and how finally at the age of 57 she feels more confident about her appearance than ever before.
Here's our round-up of the most empowering moments from GLAMOUR's Women of the Year awards sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Ring 2024:
Katherine Ryan's opening speech
While Katherine Ryan's opening speech certainly delivered all the laughs, there were some pretty powerful moments in there too. Katherine highlighted the bravery of Gisèle Pelicot, whose husband enlisted 83 strangers to rape her while she was drugged: “Gisèle insisted on being identified and for the whole trial to be public so the full facts of the case emerged.”
She added, “Women deserve BETTER than what we are receiving from men on a global scale. Someone asked me the other day how I would raise my son to be different. I said won’t be able to. Not until the toxic patriarchy that exists today is dismantled, otherwise whatever kind of boy I unleash into the world will be rotted away by association.”
Deborah Joseph's powerful speech about her last Women of the Year awards
Earlier this year, Deborah Joseph, European Editorial Director of GLAMOUR, announced that she'd be stepping down after an incredible seven years at the helm of the magazine. In her opening speech, she said, “Editing Glamour has undoubtedly been a privilege and the job of a lifetime. The GLAMOUR team works so incredibly hard to ensure that women’s lives are more equitable, safe, free – and, of course – fun and glamorous.”
We celebrated the gamechangers, activists, and feminist icons who are making the world a better place for women.
Charlie Craggs wears a ‘Revenge for Grenfell’ tee shirt
Charlie Craggs lost her best friend, Khadija Saye, in the Grenfell fire in 2017. She has since been a determined advocate for ensuring that the people and businesses responsible for the fire are held accountable – and that all the Grenfell victims, including Khadija, receive some form of justice. Tonight, Charlie wore a slogan tee that read “Revenge for Grenfell.”
Nicola Coughlan and Simone Ashley's sweet Bridgerton moment
Our two Bridgerton besties reunited on the GLAMOUR stage, with Nicola Coughlan – AKA Lady Whistledown – presenting Simone Ashley, AKA Kate Sharma – with the award for Gamechanging Actor. Delivering her speech, Nicola said of Simone, “She never imagined herself in a period drama – after all, growing up, she rarely saw anyone who looked like her in any sort of TV drama at all.”
“But it wasn’t long before she was pioneering her way through the corset-clad landscape, reshaping global views of South-Asian representation as she held her own on horseback, kicked ass at croquet and stoked the palatable tension on the ballroom floor as she quadrilled her way into our hearts in Netflix’s ‘diamond of the season’ – Bridgerton.”
She further described Simone as “tenaciously determined and absolutely divine”, which YES.
Accepting the award, Simone said, “Thank you Nicola. Your schedule is just so so busy, so thank you for being here to present for me. It means so much to me for you to be here, we've been on such a journey together. I really look up to you. I love you.”
CUTE.
Simone Ashley calls out everyday sexism and the importance of representation
When Simone speaks, the rest of the room (and the world) listens. During her incredible acceptance speech, she shared an example of her experience with day-to-day sexism.
"I was driving my car in London. My male best friend was in the car with me. I was struggling to park my car […] A man in a van drove past and decided to help me… giving me instructions. I started to get overwhelmed. His behaviour became more aggressive and intrusive […] I started to get a bit nervous. He looked at my male friend, put one arm up and then the other, puffed up his chest and said 'YOU should be driving.”
“This was an example of me being told that I wasn't good at something because I was a woman.”
Simone then delivered the following empowering message about the power of representation:
"To any little girl watching this, especially little girls with skin like mine. I hope that you can watch me and trust and understand that you do belong. You belong on this stage with me, with a microphone like this, so your voice can be heard loud and clear, and trust that I love the colour of my skin. I think it is strong. I think it is beautiful. I think it is so worthy, and I think it's so capable.
“And to the same little girls, if anyone ever tells you that something is impossible because you're a woman, I hope you can look in the mirror and put one arm up and the other one and puff up your chest and say, I can do it.”
Campaigner and influencer Cally Jane Beech is being honoured as GLAMOUR’S Activist of the Year at our annual Women of the Year Awards for courageously taking a stand against digitally altered, sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ of women and girls. Here, she speaks to GLAMOUR about her experience of deepfake abuse, how motherhood influences her activism, and why she’s calling on the government to protect all survivors of image-based abuse.
Chloë Bailey's powerful speech about women uplifting the next generation
Next up, Chloë Bailey followed in her sister Halle's footsteps by winning a GLAMOUR Women of the Year Award. Accepting her award for ‘Musician of the Year’, she said:
"Since first starting this journey with my sister Halle as just a girl, to now a woman producing, writing, engineering, and performing my own solo music, this job has seen me realise unimaginable dreams.
“But I know all this means nothing if we don't reach back and bring the next generation of women along with us. Part of being able to do that is by being an example of what's possible, being a representation that as a woman, we can make, record, and perform our own music. We can go to space. We can see ourselves on the big screen. We can make advancements in science, healthcare, and education, and yes, we can even be the President one day.”
Cally Jane Beech calls for Image-Based Abuse law
Cally Jane Beech is GLAMOUR's Activist of the Year for her powerful work advocating for better laws on image-based abuse after her own traumatic experience with deepfake abuse. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I feel a deep responsibility to raise awareness and fight for change. We cannot allow technology to violate our privacy and dignity. We need stronger laws and more accountability.
“This honour strengthens me to continue fighting for a safer online world, not just for my daughter, but for all women. That's why I am proud to support GLAMOUR's campaign with the End Violence Against Women and Girls Coalition, Not Your Porn, and Professor Clare McGlynn. Together, we are pushing for laws that protect us from image-based abuse.”
Unreal.
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, presenting Francesca Amewudah-Rivers' award
Presenting the award for Theatre Actor of the Year, Rebecca Lucy Taylor said of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, “In her portrayal of a modern-day feminist Juliet, she carved out a character who fiercely advocates for herself and her future, proving she could more than hold her own opposite Tom Holland’s Romeo both on and off the stage.”
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers' empowering speech about Black history
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We have no words. In her acceptance speech, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers – AKA our Theatre Actor of the Year – said:
“I would love to take a moment to return to the past and honour a Black woman of history whose story has a direct influence on me being here speaking to you all today. Her name was Rachel Baptiste, an Irish singer and actress who was one of the most celebrated performers in the mid-18th century across the UK and believed to be the first black woman to play Juliet in Romeo and Juliet on a UK stage.
“But despite having had a successful career of over 25 years in the mid-1700s and although she listed London and Bath among places where she performed to universal applause, her name does not appear in any of the standard reference works on the 18th century London stage, nor is anyone of her description recorded as having performed in Bath during that period a too often are the stories of women eradicated from history, especially the lives of global majority, trans, queer, disabled women who continue, they continue to be erased from mainstream culture.
“We need to bring these stories to the forefront, because we need to know ourselves as women. We need to know our histories as women in order to feel empowered, in order to realize our potential, we all stand on the shoulders of centuries of powerful women who have fought against patriarchal structures, who have dared to imagine a life for themselves and all women that is founded upon: liberation and community.”
Jodie Turner-Smith expertly deals with imposter syndrome
Jodie Turner-Smith is our Screen Trailblazer of the Year! In her speech, Jodie reflected on imposter syndrome. "It said, 'You're not special.' I felt deflated […] What could I say to a room like this?
“What could I say from my place of privilege, the victories of my little world paling in comparison to the millions of women around the world suffering and struggling and managing still to push through…. Then something occurred to me, this award isn't really about me, it's about the opportunity I've been given to be a vessel, the opportunity that I have to give love and joy and empathy and darkness with every show and film I get to take complete strangers by the hand and make them believe in the humanity of each of the women I have the privilege to play and a duty to honour.”
Say Now accepting their first-ever award
Say Now are the winners of the Samsung Rising Star award – their first-ever award! The first of many, we reckon.
Accepting the award, Amelia said, “We're three young girls in an industry that's very dominated by men, many who are older than us, and while they're not all bad, we're so lucky to have each other to help when we need to tell these people to F off and let us do what we wanna do when we wanna do it.”
Katherine Ryan honoured with surprise award
Did we mention that this is the fourth year in a row that Katherine Ryan has hosted the GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards? To celebrate, Deborah Joseph took to the stage to surprise her with the award for Feminist Hero of the Year.
Announcing the news, Deborah said, “Katherine's wildly sharp wit and razor-sharp intelligence has won her the admiration of women (and men) up and down the country, and throughout the world. She's had sell-out tours, three highly successful standup specials, is a regular on much loved panel shows, has a Netflix show, a reality TV show, has written a Sunday Times Bestseller, and her podcast frequently tops the charts.”
The good news? I think we got away with keeping it a surprise!
Accepting the award, Katherine said, “It's a tough gig, but I love it.” We hear you, Katherine.
Kelly Holmes tribute to Keely Hodkingson
We have absolutely no chill when it comes to Kelly Holmes. Tonight, the double Olympic gold medallist presented Keely Hodkingson with the award for Sporting Hero of the Year. She said, “This woman has, by her own admittance, adopted a strict gold-medal mindset, which paid off at the Paris Olympics this summer.”
Keely Hodkingson's speech about being a role model for women in sport
Keely Hodgkinson is our Sporting Hero of the Year. In her speech, she highlighted the importance of representation in women's sport:
“I accept this award not only on behalf of myself but on behalf of the entire sport of track and field and women's sport as a whole. This recognition means more than I can express because it's not just celebration of my achievements, but a celebration of the incredible athletes, coaches and supporters who've been a part of this journey. To know that I've inspired young girls to get into sport is both humbling and amazing.”
From becoming an Olympic champion in Paris to winning Sporting Hero at the GLAMOUR Woman of The Year awards, 2024 is Keely Hodgkinson’s year. British Athletics’ golden girl tells Josh Smith about nurturing a medal mindset and how she wants to use her platform to tackle gender inequality in sport – including one of her discipline’s last taboos: contraception.
Jameela Jamil took aim at toxic beauty standards
No one says it better than Jameela, our Gamechanging Voice of the Year:
“The patriarchy seeks to distract, destroy and erase us by the time we get older because we become harder to control. Because we become too valuable. And we must not find out, otherwise we might start spending more of our energy on things that could even the playing field in this world. We might start getting proper sleep. We might eat enough nutrients. We might become too happy in ourselves and genuinely confident in who we are. Can you imagine what we could do?”
Pamela Anderson speech
One of GLAMOUR’s two Global Women of the Year (alongside the mighty Serena Williams), Pamela Anderson accepted her award with the following speech:
"By getting the chance to play this role [in The Last Showgirl], the mask came off, and the world opened up. And I have to tell you, I like it. Feeling rooted for is new and curious. It's overwhelming and humbling and most of all, it's fun. I'm living in the mystery of not knowing what's next, and that's exciting. Few get an opportunity to be here at all, let alone the second chance, and I'm going to make the most of it.
"As a survivor of sexual violence, I now see the pattern I was stuck in and what I was trying to achieve in my own way to exert my own power. And I know it takes tremendous strength to heal, and I thank everyone who's supported me on this journey. These last few years have felt like a fresh slate. I'm on my path, a new glorious and imperfect one, but the lesson I've learned is not to let what's happened to me define me what I do.
“I dedicate this award to women everywhere, rising above their painful paths and finding the courage to be their best selves. God bless you, and thank you.”
And that's all for now. We're already excited for next year!
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
