Pink's Powerful VMAs Speech Was An Ode To Her Daughter

At tonight's MTV VMAs, Pink was honored with the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. After a performance medley of her greatest hits, the singer accepted the award from Ellen DeGeneres with a moving speech dedicated to her 6-year-old daughter Willow, who was watching from the crowd.

Related article: Taylor Swift Debuts “Look What You Made Me Do” Video At The VMAs

The singer shared an emotional story about a time her daughter was upset because she was "ugly" and looked like "a boy with long hair." Pink's response was to create a Powerpoint of androgynous rockstars to inspire her daughter to be confident in who she was and to be proud of her beauty. "We don't change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty," Pink told her daughter and the crowd.

Related article: See Who Made The Cut For The MTV Video Music Awards 2017!

The entire speech was a beautiful ode not only to Pink's own daughter, but to women and girls everywhere. Read the inspiring speech in its entirety below:

"I know I don't have a lot of time, but if I may tell you a quick story. Recently, I was driving my daughter to school and she said to me, out of the blue, 'Mama?' I said, 'Yes, baby?' She said, 'I'm the ugliest girl I know.' And I said, 'Huh?' And she was like, 'Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair.' And my brain went to Oh my god, you're 6. Why? Where is this coming from? Who said this? Can I kick a 6-year-old's ass, like what?"

"But I didn't say anything. Instead I went home and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her. And in that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag, and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists — her eyes glazed over. But then I said, 'You know, I really wanna know why you feel this way about yourself.' And she said, 'Well I look like a boy,' and I said, 'Well what do you think I look like?' And she said, 'Well you're beautiful.' And I was like, 'Well, thanks. But when people make fun of me, that's what they use. They say I look like a boy or I'm too masculine or I have too many opinions, my body is too strong.'"

"And I said to her, 'Do you see me growing my hair?' She said, 'No, Mama.' I said, 'Do you see me changing my body?' 'No, Mama.' 'Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?' 'No, Mama.' 'Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?' 'Yes, Mama.' 'OK! So, baby girl. We don't change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.' And to all the artists here, I'm so inspired by all of you. Thank you for being your true selves and for lighting the way for us. I'm so inspired by you guys. There's so much rad shit happening in music. And keep doing it. keep shining for the rest of us to see. And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, and I love you. Thank you, MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you, Ellen. I couldn't love you more. Thank you guys. Goodnight."

Related article: See All The Red Carpet Looks From The 2017 MTV VMAs

From: Harper's BAZAAR US