Selena Gomez discusses need for role models after young mother thanks her
Selena Gomez accepted the Equity in Entertainment Award on December 04, 2024
Selena Gomez stressed the value of representation and great role models for young females.
The Wizard of Waverly Place dedicated the victory to the voiceless as she accepted the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala on Wednesday, December 4, at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
She dedicated the award to the "people who don't have voices and have been overlooked, pushed aside, and most importantly have been disrespected."
Gomez also talked about how, when she was fifteen, she was filming a "kid show" when a young mother approached her.
"She was with her daughter and she said, 'I'm so excited and happy. Thank you for being someone that looks like my daughter on TV because she can finally look up to someone like her,' " Gomez recalled.
The Calm Down crooner reflected on her youth, saying that she was "very grateful," "wanted to do my best to live up to that in whatever form that looked like," and "was not thinking about the representation or what the gravity of those words meant."
"I believe that young girls need to see themselves reflected in diverse roles, heroes, leaders, and complex characters. When girls see women in empowered roles like I have, it inspires them to dream big and pursue their aspirations," said Gomez.
She shared that she is "not just about seeing more faces on the screen, it's about creating opportunities for people to see themselves."
"When we give people the platform to tell their stories, we not only deepen our understanding for one another, we open doors to what's possible," she said.
Notably, Gomez actively advocates the representation of females in the entertainment industry.
