Pop star Rihanna and TV mogul Shonda Rhimes were among those honoured at this year’s Black Girls Rock! ceremony in the US.
Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton made an appearance and told the audience: “My life has been changed by strong black women leaders.”
The Friday night event, which celebrates established and emerging black women, was taped at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre for broadcast on April 5 on BET in America.
Rihanna attending Black Girls Rock! (Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)
Hillary spoke before introducing Beverly Bond, who founded Black Girls Rock! in 2006.
There was loud applause for Bajan superstar Rihanna, the final person to be honoured on the night.
“Thank you so much for celebrating us in a world that doesn’t celebrate us enough,” she said onstage.
Hillary Clinton at Black Girls Rock! (Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)
“The minute you learn to love yourself you will not want to be anybody else,” the Grammy Award-winning singer added. “Role model is not the title they like to give me … (but) I think I can inspire a lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle.”
Rihanna also thanked her mother and grandmother for being strong black women and excellent role models. “Hopefully one day I’ll be raising my own little black girl who rocks,” she said.
TV heavyweight Shonda, the creator behind TV hits including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder, brought her daughter to the event “to sit in a room with you and feel the energy that’s here”.
TV’s Shonda Rhimes honoured by Black Girls Rock! (Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)
“Because she and you are the ones who count, the ones who matter,” she said.
“It’s the minute someone starts giving you awards, you are more history than future. But your slates are blank, your paths are clear and your stories are whatever you decide they’re going to be.”
Gladys Knight, who performed a medley of her hits, was also honoured. “It is the best award, the greatest trophy that I’ve ever received,” she said.
Gladys Knight at 2016 Black Girls Rock! (Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)
“More than a Grammy. More than so many other awards that I’ve gotten that I appreciate.”
Famous attendees included Kelly Rowland, the late Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy, Fame’s Debbie Allen, singer Erykah Badu and Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air actress Tatyana Ali.
Tracee Ellis Ross, actress daughter of Motown great Diana Ross, hosted the event.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here