Our woman of the month is the one and only P!nk. Why? Because singer and songwriter Alecia Beth Moore is an absolute power-house of a woman. She is a strong advocate for women, the LGBTQ+ community, an inspirational mother, generous charity ambassador, and animal rights, activist.
Despite the tough girl, tom-boy image she has cultivated throughout her music career, P!nk has a side to her that makes her the ultimate role model. Approachable, friendly, and wise, she has spoken out about various topics, none more notable than the conversation she had with her daughter about the way society expects you to look a certain way.
At 2017’s MTV Music Awards, P!nk’s acceptance speech for the Video Vanguard Award was one that we’ll always remember.
“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 six. 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 want to 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.”
There have been MANY notable times where P!nk has spoken up for what she believes in and for things she feels are important. These include:
The wish she had in her acceptance speech for Billboard’s Woman of the year –
“That girls embraced their power and their worth and their value in their youth, and not sell it or barter it for anything and have to buy it back later in life.”
When she responded to people body-shaming her after a photo was published online after attending a cancer benefit in Hollywood.
“So, my good and concerned peoples, please don’t worry about me. I’m not worried about me. And I’m not worried about you either. I am perfectly fine, perfectly happy, and my healthy, voluptuous, and crazy-strong body is having some much deserved time off. Thanks for your concern.”
When she proposed to her husband in 2005.
“When she got engaged to BMX champion Carey Hart in 2005, she was the one who popped the question at the Pro 250 class finals in Mammoth, California. During the motocross champion’s third lap, P!nk wrote on a pit board, “Will you marry me?” Hart kept on driving. P!nk then pulled up a board that said, “I’m serious!” He pulled off the track, dashed over to P!nk, and accepted her offer.”
When she collaborated with the Indigo Girls for ‘Dear Mr. President.’
“What kind of father would take his own daughter’s rights away?/And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?/I can only imagine what the first lady has to say.”
To this day P!nk is making a difference to the world. After being diagnosed with coronavirus early this year, once she had recovered she donated $1 Million to support healthcare workers who were risking their lives treating COVID-19 sufferers during the pandemic.
We think she’s an absolute inspiration to women all over the world.