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Beyonce

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty

The Council of Fashion Designers of America held their annual awards last night, where Beyoncé was honored with the Fashion Icon Award.  In true Beyoncé fashion, she took the moment to give an inspiring speech about what fashion means to her.

Beyoncé began her speech explaining fashion has always been a part of her life, as her grandmother was a seamstress.  Her mother Tina also learned those skills, and she has made various outfits for Beyoncé over the years, including her wedding dress.  Beyoncé said, “When we were starting out in Destiny’s Child, high-end labels, they didn’t want to dress four black, country, curvy girls.”   She continued, “And we couldn’t afford designer dresses and couture.  My mother was rejected from every showroom in New York.  But like my grandmother, she used her talent and her creativity to give her children their dreams.”

Beyoncé wrapped up her speech with the following words to inspire fashion designers:

“I want to say thank you to every designer that works tirelessly to make people feel like they can write their own story.  Y’all are fairy godmothers and magicians and sculptors and sometimes, even our therapists.  I encourage you to not forget this power that you have, or take it lightly.  We have an opportunity to contribute to a society where any girl can look at a billboard and magazine cover and see her own reflection.  Soul has no color, no shape, no form.  Just like all of your work it goes far beyond what the eyes can see.  You have the power to change perception, to inspire and empower, to embrace their complications and see the true beauty, to show people how to embrace their complications and see the true beauty and strength that’s inside all of us.  Thank you so much for this incredible award, I’ll never forget this night, and God bless y’all.”

Husband Jay-Z, Daughter Blue Ivy, and her mother Tina all sat in the front row to watch her accept the honor.  Read more on the story here.