Selena Gomez knows how important representation is.
Multihyphenate, 32, was honored with the Equity in Entertainment Award The Hollywood Reporter‘s Women in Entertainment Gala, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, on Wednesday, December 4.
The publisher created the award in 2016 to recognize individuals who amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry, according to its website. Another nominee at the event was Nicole Kidman, who received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award.
Selena Gomez attends The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala on December 4, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Amy Sussman/Getty
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While receiving her award, Wizards of Waverly Place alum dedicated it to “people who have no voice and have been overlooked, pushed aside and, most importantly, belittled.”
Speaking about what the award means to her, she recalled the time when she was filming a “children’s show” at the age of 15 and when a young mother approached her from the audience.
“She was with her daughter and she said, ‘I’m so excited and happy. Thank you for being someone who looks like my daughter on TV because she can finally look up to someone like her,'” Gomez recalled being told. .
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Selena Gomez on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’.
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Although Gomez said she didn’t think “about representation or what those words meant” at that age, she was “very grateful” and “wanted to do my best to fulfill that in whatever form that took.”
“I believe young girls should see themselves reflected in different roles, heroes, leaders and complex characters. When girls see women in empowered roles like myself, it inspires them to dream big and follow their aspirations,” said Gomez.
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The actress went on to say that presenting for her “is not just about seeing more faces on screen, but about creating opportunities for people to see themselves.”
“When we give people a platform to tell their stories, we not only deepen our understanding of each other, we open the door to what’s possible,” she said.
While speaking with PEOPLE about the honor, she shared that she believes in fairness and representation of “all types of women.”
“I believe with all my heart that we deserve to be who we are. We control our bodies, our minds, our souls. We know what works for us,” she says.
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“I think so, I hope we’re here to celebrate that and more change is coming. We need more stories like Emilia Perez“, adds Gomez. “We need more moments in history to break the mold.”
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Source: HIS Education