Last night, Glamour hosted its annual Women of the Year Awards, celebrating this year’s honorees—actor and author Brooke Shields, actor, writer, and show-runner Quinta Brunson, actor and singer Mary J. Blige, model and transgender advocate Geena Rocero, and actor, author, and advocate Selma Blair (all of whom are featured on special digital covers). This year’s celebration also included the first-ever global Women of the Year honorees, actors Millie Bobby Brown and America Ferrera. The actors were recently featured on digital covers across Glamour editions in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain, and Mexico.
Guests gathered at Jazz in Lincoln Center, wearing a black tie dress code that highly encouraged wearing women designers. Before the evening’s festivities kicked off, Glamour editor in chief Samantha Barry caught up with Vogue to shed light on the importance of the annual awards and the thoughtful process of making the celebration a reality. “We think about our Women Of The Year (WOTY) honorees all year. The Glamour editorial team connects with our WOTY advisory board, which comprises former WOTY honorees, to discuss who we should consider honoring,” said Barry, wearing Mexican-born and California-based designer Alexia Maria. “The process for us is a collective one because we want the group to represent a lot—We want them to be cross-generational, from different industries and backgrounds.”
After walking the WOTY red carpet, partygoers strolled upstairs to The Appel Room, where the ceremony would soon begin. Attendees took their seats in the elegant Greek Amphitheater-inspired setting, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle. The evening kicked off with introductions from host and comedian Michelle Buteau, followed by an acoustic performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Maggie Rogers.
“With performing in front of women specifically, I just wanted to bring the most truthful and vulnerable version of the music that I make—So it’s just me and a guitar playing my song,” Rogers told Vogue. “I’m so honored that I get to open the show. It’s s crazy just to step onstage in front of all these powerful women.” Between stand-up comedy segments by Buteau, she and DJ Domo welcomed each presenter—personal champions and loved ones of their respective honorees.
Ayo Edebiri took to the stage to present the WOTY award to her dear friend, Quinta Brunson, describing her as both a “brilliant genius” in all of her work, a masterful trash-talker ( a skill used only, of course, when deservedly so), and fierce friend. Joking that her parents initially thought she would be a clown when she first started her comedy career, Brunson spoke of the importance of self advocation and the personal impact she hopes to have on young black girls who see her in the media.