Power of Women Event Honors Shonda Rhimes, Anitta, Mariska Hargitay, Amy Schumer – Inspiring Speeches and Tributes

It was a day of support and encouragement among women – full of hope for change – at Differentand The Power of Women, presented by Lifetime, Thursday. The event, which took place at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, honored Shonda Rhimes, Anitta, Mariska Hargitay and Amy Schumerand was hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin.

Before the honorees took the stage, Denise, Dominique and Tanya Brown, the sisters of The late Nicole Brown Simpson paid tribute to her sister after the first trailer for Lifetime’s upcoming docuseries, “The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson.” The four-part special does not dwell on the crime or the “trial of the century,” in which Brown’s ex-husband, OJ Simpson, was charged and later acquitted of her murder. Instead, it will focus on Brown Simpson with those who knew her best. There are more than 50 participants in the docuseries, which will be broadcast on June 1 and 2.

“The work we do will never end because of the tragedy of Nicole… the incident. “I’m really happy to see men in this audience because I really believe that domestic violence affects everyone. It’s not just women, it affects the whole family.”

She continued, “Nicole suffered incredible pain and through that pain, she was able to protect her children. She was able to be there for her children. She walked away from the person who was abusing her. She was a daughter, she was a sister, she was a mother, she was a friend – she was a woman and her life was tragically cut short .

Tears flowed throughout the room after the powerful comments, including Hargitay, who immediately stood to hug the Brown sisters.

When it came time for the honorees to take the stage, each spoke about the obstacles they had to overcome to get to where they are today. For Anitta, that meant break through the boundaries grounded in her culture as she grew up in the Brazilian favelas.

“There were so many rules. So many rules on how to be a woman, how to behave, how to find the best man, how to look good to the audience, to be the cute girl that everyone is for marriage,” said the singer, who represented the charity CUFA ( Said Central Única das Favelas). “And I was not just this man. I wanted to shake my ass, I wanted to to be free, I wanted to make my own money.”

Schumer also spoke about freedom of doing things on her own terms – and speaking up to change things. Representing Everytown for Gun Safety, she said the gun lobbyists are “keeping us complacent by tricking us into believing that gun laws don’t make a difference… Instead, we need everyone to use the voice. And you won’t believe this, but the most effective people have been mothers.”

While uplifting several women, she shouted out Gloria Steinem, who famously said, “We’re connected, we’re not ranked,” the overall theme of the evening: Women lifting up other women, the instead of competing against each other.

Romans she brought that up in her speech, while representing the Debbie Allen Academy of Dance. “Ms. Allen doesn’t care where you’re from—DADA just provides what you need to get involved,” she said. “If you have nothing, she will give everything. If you have everything, it’s better not to brag. At DADA everyone is valued, everyone is treated the same, everyone is important. “

There was also a sense of urgency about the speeches, with the dignitaries and presenters calling for change, particularly in terms of leadership. “Patriarchal suppression must end. Patriarchal deterrence is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment,” Hargitay said before discussing Harvey Weinstein’s conviction actually reversed because “too many” women were testifying. “Danger of letting women speak? You are bad it is right. Too many women speaking up makes a difference.”

DJ Daisy O’Dell was in charge of musical direction for the event.