Beyoncé entered the 2016 CFDA Awards with beaming confidence and as always, a positive attitude. Not only was she awarded the Fashion Icon of the year, but awarded us all with an encouraging and moving speech regarding her grandmother and how fashion has made a full impact on her life. She boldly stated:
As long as I can remember, fashion has always been a part of my life. It’s effect on me actually started before I was born. Most of you guys don’t know this but my grandmother was a seamstress. My grandparents did not have enough money: they could not afford my mother’s catholic school tuition. So my grandmother sold clothes for the priest and the nuns and made the uniforms for the students in exchange for my mothers education.
When we were starting out in Destiny’s Child, high-end labels, they really didn’t want to dress four black country-curvy girls. And we couldn’t afford designer dresses and couture. My mother was rejected from every showroom in New York. But like my grandmother, she used her talent and her creativity to give her children their dreams. My mother and my uncle Johnny (God Bless His Soul), designed all of our first costumes and made each piece by hand individually sowing hundreds of crystals and pearls putting so much passion and love into every small detail.
I had an extra suit of armor. It was so much deeper than any brand name. And my mother, who is so fabulous and beautiful and is here tonight. I love you. My mother and my grandmother and my uncle were always with me so I could not fail. My mother actually designed my wedding dress, my prom dress, my first CFDA award dress, my first Grammy dress, and the list goes on and on and on. And this to me is the true power and potential of fashion. It’s a tool for finding your own identity, expression and strength. It transcends style and is a time capsule of all of our greatest milestones. So to my mother, my uncle, my grandma, thank ya’ll. Thank you for showing me that having a presence is far more than the clothes you wear and your physical beauty. Thank you for showing me to never take no for an answer. Thank you for showing me how to take risks, work hard and live life on my own terms. I wanna say thank you to every designer that works tirelessly to make people feel like they can write their own story. Ya’ll are fairy godmothers, and magicians and sculptures and sometimes even our therapists. I encourage you to not forget this power that you have or take it lightly. We have an opportunity to contribute to a society where any girl can look at a billboard or a magazine cover and see her own reflection.
Soul has no color; no shape no form. Just like all of your work it goes so far beyond what the eyes can see. You have the power to change perception, to inspire and empower and to show people how to embrace their complications and see the flaws and the true beauty and the strength that’s inside all of us.
The inspiring woman accepted her award with a beautiful, shiny two-piece suit with a glowing golden presence and wide brim hat. One of the nights most spectacular outfits.
There are a million young boys and girls out in the world that look up to Beyoncé not only as an artist, but as a human being who has continuously shown that ambition and passion will always overcome negativity. Never take no for an answer. You can succeed; you just have to believe in you.
Loved the CFDA’s tonight? Chat with us on Twitter by tagging us @CelebMix and let us know who you thought stole the show tonight!