Zendaya

Wow. I just wanna say, first of all, I wanna say thank you for having me. I you guys don't understand how important the work that's being done here is. I'm a little nervous because, you know, this is something that, you know, awards are great, but this is something that really means something, and it's something that really means something to me.

And so I'm gonna make it short, I'm gonna make it sweet. But you know, I was talking to, Osa, actually, just in our little break here, and we were just talking about things. And she was saying, you know, "Thank you for what you do."

And I was just like, "Are you kidding me? Thank you for what you do," right? I mean, she but something she said, she said, "You know, it's rare that there's a place where young people, can speak and have voice and people will actually listen."

And I think that that kind of struck a chord with me because I am a young person, right? And I'm a young person with a lot of followers.

And you know, I always say that I would much rather be known for, the content of my character and the kind of person that I am than the last project that I did or the last movie that I did or the last music that I put out. And I think it's so important.

You know, and what I've learned, and being here tonight is so special to me because I'm around like-minded people and like-minded young people. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm around my peers, young people like both of yourselves who are so courageous and so beautiful in your own way, and are not afraid

To be exactly who you are. And that is so beautiful. And so, you know, to know your purpose and to know who you are at such a young age is hard and it's difficult.

And I'm lucky to be around people like this who have found that, within themselves and continue to live that truth every single day. And I've learned that, like, my purpose, I think, is I have this platform, right? I have this platform that I'm standing on.

And sometimes when you get there, you realize that your purpose is not to stand on it anymore, but to get off and let somebody else stand on it. So that's what I want to continue to do and continue to push. And to every student that's here, I just want you to know that I admire you.

You know what I mean? This award is really for us, right? 'Cause we are the game changers.

We are the ones who are literally changing the game. We are not playing, okay? It is not a game with these millennials, all right?

And we are here to stay. And we are gonna change the game. And I think that that's so powerful, right?

Game changer. We're the ones who are going to and I say it over and over again, and it's overused, but we are the future. We are the future leaders of the world. We are the ones who are gonna make this world a better place.

And I said it that day, and I'm gonna say it again, but it's so true. Please understand the power of your voice. Please understand that you have the capacity to literally change the world.

And I know that's a lot of pressure, and trust me, I feel it too. Sometimes, you know, I'll put out a Instagram or whatever, or I'll speak out and do whatever, and I get hit with all kinds of things. And you know, I'm like, "Damn.

Should I have posted that?" And I'm like, "Yes! Absolutely I should have."

Absolutely I should have. So do not let other people's, I guess you could say, insecurities, and don't, do not let that, fear cause fear and allow that to silence you. Allow, never allow that fear to silence you.

Continue to be outspoken. Continue to believe and live in your truth and do exactly what you were meant to do. And so honestly, I'm just here to say that I appreciate you and I thank you and everybody in this room for continuing to not only cultivate those young minds, but say, but give us a platform and a space to speak and listen.

So thank you for your respect. Thank you for constantly respecting these young people, and let's continue to make some change and change the game. All right? I'm so nervous right now.

First of all, thank you Yara. This is, she is, you know, the future. She is a young woman who is educated.

She's beautiful. She's smart. So thank you and I can't wait for you to be getting this. Wow. What a, what a room.

What a room to be in. There's not much I can say, but thank you for allowing me to be here amongst you in your presence. Thank you. First of all, this is not about me.

This is about you. This is about thanking you for showing me that my life matters, thanking you for showing me what strength means. Thank you for paving the way for us, for showing us that we are worth it, that we are proud, and it is okay to be proud of who we are, of our bodies, of the way we look, of the way we feel.

It's beautiful. And now is such a pivotal time in our history. It's such a pivotal, crazy time. And I want you to know, all you ladies out there, you are the leaders.

You we are the future. We need you. We need every single one of you in this room. You are needed. You are needed to step up to the plate right here, right now and let your voice be heard.

This is the time. So please continue to do so. I appreciate you. I love you.

I thank you. I support you. I am with you. We are all with you in this room tonight.

So thank you for everything that you do. Thank you for allowing me to be here with you. And there's notha nothing else I can say but thank you thank you.

So I love you. To women. Thank you so much. This is an absolute honor.

I'm, incredibly grateful to, be up here in front of all of you beautiful people tonight. Woman of the Year, that's, kinda crazy considering that I am 23 years old and I am just figuring out how to become a young woman myself, and and figuring it out as I go. And to be here tonight, thank you so much.

And thank you GQ, for having me. Yeah, I don't know. I don't really know really what to say.

It's a huge honor. I feel like sometimes, I go and I go and I go, and I think a lot of us can relate to this, but you go so hard, and sometimes you forget to just kinda stop and take in moments like this.

Sometimes, I was talking about it earlier, I feel like I work so much that I forget about life, and to actually be present in these kinds of moments where you can look around the room, amongst people that you appreciate and just take it in, you know? And just, and just be happy and just be alive for a second. So that's what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna just, like, take a second, look around, and be like, "Holy shit. This is happening. Pretty cool," you know? So thank you guys, so much.

And thank you in any way for allowing me to use my art form, to connect with people and to hopefully make a positive impact in their life. And please, everyone tonight, enjoy it. Look around and have a beautiful night, and take in the moment.