‘This Is What Believing Looks Like’: Sheryl Lee Ralph Gives Rousing Speech After Winning Her First Emmy
The 2022 Emmy Awards was an eventful night for many reasons but the number one reason was that Black women were getting all of the shine as they should. The ceremony welcomed many Hollywood creatives from the beloved cast of Abbott Elementary to the stars of Euphoria, but some stand-out moments made the evening more special. Sheryl Lee Ralph was the moment after she accepted the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Mrs. Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary. The award was long overdue for the iconic actress who was one of the original Dreamgirls and has been acting in Hollywood for over 50 years.
Sheryl first broke out into a song and then shared some inspirational words with the audience during her acceptance speech. “To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true. I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like. This is what striving looks like. And don’t you ever, ever give up on you,” she said.
Sheryl Lee Ralph Wins Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
“Because if you get a Qunita Brunson in your corner, if you get a husband like mine in your corner, if you get children like mine in your corner, and if you’ve got friends like everybody who voted for me, cheered for me, loved me, thank you!”
Sheryl is the first Black woman in 35 years to win in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category. Fellow legendary actress Jackée Harry was the first Black woman to take home the award and she congratulated the Moesha star on Twitter.
"@thesherylralph’s had a remarkable career AND she’s one of the nicest people in Hollywood. Barbara Howard on #AbbottElementary is another fabulous character we’ve been fortunate to watch her breathe life into,” the Sister, Sister actress tweeted.
Sheryl’s co-star and the creator of Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson, also won her first Emmy. The social media breakout star and actress won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the ABC sitcom. She thanked ABC, Disney and Warner Bros as well as her husband, family and the cast and crew.
Quinta Brunson Wins Emmy for Writing for a Comedy Series
Zendaya made history again with Euphoria. After receiving the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the 26-year-old became the first Black woman and youngest ever two-time actress to win in the Emmy category.
The Euphoria actress and executive producer acknowledged people who may be struggling with addiction such as her character Rue. “Anyone who has loved a Rue, or feels like a Rue, I want you to know that I’m so grateful for your stories, and I carry them with me, and I carry them with her,” she said. “So, thank you very much.”
Zendaya Makes History With Second Emmy Win for Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Lastly, Lizzo took home her first Emmy after winning in the Best Competition Series category for her Prime Video show Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. After accepting her award, Lizzo gave a touching speech. "When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Fat like me. Black like me. Beautiful like me,” she said. “If I could go back and tell little Lizzo something, I would be like, 'You are gonna see that person but b—, it's gonna have to be you.' "
With an Emmy and three Grammys, the “About Damn Time” songstress is halfway to EGOT status.
Lizzo Wins First Emmy for Competition Program
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Featured image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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It Girl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime