Madonna, a global icon who extended her record as the highest-grossing female touring artist of all time in 2016 — was honored as Woman of the Year at Billboard’s Women In Music 2016 event on Friday (Dec. 9). And during her acceptance speech, she was fully ferocious, funny and brutally honest — in other words, she was the Madonna we’ve known and adored since she debuted more than 30 years ago.” – Billboard 

After Madonna opened with a joke about feeling better when there is something hard between her legs, she immediately changed the tone of her acceptance speech.

And it was nothing short of brilliant.

Brilliant for women who don’t ever want to fit in a box (guilty). Brilliant for women who want to be daring, and feminists, and share their controversial strong voices, but don’t want to be pegged as a bitch or unladylike if they do (guilty again).

I have loved and idolized Madonna my whole adult life. She has pushed envelopes, raised bars, pioneered and led the way for many female artists. A leader and never a follower, someone who says what’s on her mind with no fear, a tireless work ethic, always reinventing herself year after year, I simply heart Madonna.

I urge you to take 10 minutes out of your day today to watch and listen to this in its entirety.

“Women have been so oppressed for so long they believe what men have to say about them. They believe they have to back a man to get the job done… As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by.” – Madonna

Amen.

Erica3