Glamour's Women of the Year Awards is back this year on Thursday, October 30th, for another night of female empowerment, solidarity and sisterhood, which is the global theme of this year's awards. The event has long been an internationally recognised celebration of the most powerful, inspirational and trailblazing female forces – and this year's bash will be no different.
The first Women of the Year ceremony was held in New York City at the iconic Rainbow Room in 1990, while the first UK-based WOTY event was held back in 2004 in London.
From powerfully opening up about her eating disorder to dealing with misogyny in the fashion industry.
There are SO many gorgeous, inspirational, fun and unforgettable moments from the awards from over the years. We have pulled together the top 13 stand-out moments from the Women of the Year Awards, from Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn's mother-daughter moment to Charlie Craggs' “Transphobia will never be Glamour” look.
The one where it all started
The UK Glamour Women of the Year awards began back in 2004. Guests included the celebs of the moment, including Friends star David Schwimmer, S Club 7, Girls Aloud and Joss Stone, who – of course – turned up barefoot.
Victoria Beckham was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the 4th Women of the Year Awards
In 2007, Posh Spice was honoured at Glamour's 4th UK awards ceremony as entrepreneur of the year for her burgeoning fashion line. She walked on stage sporting that blonde bob and some incredible hotpants, and history was made forever. She was also honoured as the Fashion Gamechanger at the virtual 2021 WOTY awards.
Naomi Campbell won the ‘TV Personality Award’ in 2014
Nick Grimshaw presented the award of ‘TV Personality of the Year’ to model and actor Naomi Campbell at the 2014 awards, for her work on Sky's The Face. The show followed three supermodel coaches – including Naomi, obviously – who competed with one another to find the face of a major brand.
Kate Hudson brought her mum, Goldie Hawn, as her date to the 2015 awards ceremony
Kate won the entrepreneur of the year award for her work on co-founding Fabletics. But our fave moment is when she honoured her mother, Goldie Hawn, in a very cute mother-daughter moment.
“I grew up with an incredibly ambitious mother, but her ambition was for a greater purpose,” Kate said. “In true Goldie form, she was doing it for all women. We are all here together and we need to support each other, we need to create a support system. We are more powerful together.”
Bono is named as Glamour’s first Man of the Year
The U2 frontman made history as the first man to be honoured at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards for his campaign Poverty Is Sexist and continued activism around gender equality. He was awarded his accolade alongside Olympian Simone Biles, Nadia Murad, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the three founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Nicole Kidman's thoughts on ageing as she collected her ‘Film Actress Of The Year’ award
2017's Awards saw Hollywood royalty arrive in the form of Nicole Kidman. In her acceptance speech for the ‘Film Actress Of The Year’ award, she had some wise words to say about ageing.
"I'm about to turn 50 in two weeks. And I never thought this would be one of the best years of my life. I thought at 40 that I'd be retired by 50, but I want to tell everyone it begins at 40 and begins at 50."
She also paid tribute to London, in the aftermath of the 7/7 tube bombings. “I'm so happy I'm here, in person, to give love back to London because London has given me so much,” Nicole said. "It is great to be standing here with you strong."
Cynthia Erivo’s marathon story during her 2022 ‘Gamechanging Performer’ award acceptance speech
An incredible reminder to just keep going – the Wicked star told an amazing anecdote about how her time running the London marathon taught her to never give up, and how the women in her life supported her.
“I wanna start by saying I'm incredibly moved by this award,” she said.
"I ran the London marathon a month ago – in case anybody doesn't know, that's 26.2 miles – I know you're thinking, why on earth would anyone do that? Well, every marathon runner knows that at some point in the 26.2 miles, you will reach an invisible wall of excruciating pain. Again, why would you do that? Hear me out…
"I hit the wall at mile 21. It felt like someone had thrown a brick at my head and, as my head was ricocheting forward, someone ranked the scruff of my neck back. All the while, I kept thinking, ‘Just keep looking forward’.
“I hear a voice yelling ‘CYNTHIA!’ – it was my younger sister holding up a sign that said, ‘Go sis, go!’ And then she yelled – like the best coach you could wish for – ‘Keep going, keep running!’"
“I love the work I do, it fills me with joy, and it's sometimes a channel for my pain […] But eventually, you hit a wall. You hit mile 21. It takes someone willing to meet you at mile 21 to tell you to keep going, keep running, to feel seen and supported.”
She finished, “There is nothing quite like a celebration of women by women. And while I can stand here and wax lyrical about my work and accomplishments, there is something far more important to express. As I stare at the sea of gorgeous faces, I'm compelled in this moment of gratitude – just in case anyone is here, at their mile 21.”
The Lionesses winning the ‘Sports Icon of the Year’ award and calling for gender equality in football in 2023
2023's Women of the Year Awards saw Jess Carter, Bethany England, Chloe Kelly, and Alessia Russo from the Lionesses take to the floor to accept the Sports Icon of the Year award.
Jess Carter said: "In the male-dominated football industry – and sport as a whole – we've discovered it's far more than just a game; it's a platform for change.
“Our journey has been filled with obstacles, from not everyone having equal opportunity to take part in P.E. at schools to wearing white shorts during our menstrual cycles, which have both been changed earlier this year.”
Georgia Harrison being named Glamour’s Activist of the Year after her campaign to amend the law around image-based sexual abuse
After her own experiences of intimate image abuse by her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear, Georgia has become an icon of activism, ensuring other victims are supported and empowered. So, of course, Glamour honoured her efforts by recognising her as ‘Activist of the Year’ back in 2023.
"I do not want to see another generation of women feeling abused, violated and ashamed,” Harrison said in her speech. "I want them to feel empowered and loved. I want them to fearlessly speak their truth and I want them to live in a world where no means no and consent is taken seriously by all other human beings.
“To all of the amazing women out there I just want you to know you are so uniquely beautiful just as you are, let your soul be authentically itself in every situation and do not let anyone else’s opinion even for a second make you want to change who you are. Real women aren’t perfect and perfect women simply are not real.”
Lily Allen opens up about her sobriety
When she accepted the Theatre Actor award back in 2023, Lily looked back on her previous experiences of attending the Glamour Women of the Year awards, particularly the time security had to remove her due to her “influenced” state.
“I believe I was carried out of this very ceremony in 2009, passed over some railings and put into the back of a car like a baby,” she saidl. "All well documented, of course. Thank you, internet…
"I am so glad those days, and that kind of drama, are behind me. I’m happy to be trying new things and learning new skills […] Thank you, Glamour, for seeing me, seeing my journey, thank you for inviting me back after I put on such an embarrassing display last time.
“It is truly an honour to be able to spend this evening with such strong, kind and clever women.”
Charlie Craggs hit the red carpet wearing an oversized white t-shirt which read, ‘Transphobia Will Never Be Glamour’.
Actor and activist Charlie Craggs made 10/10 use of the statement white t-shirt, opposing transphobia. Best of all, the statement said such discrimination “will never be Glamour”. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Jameela Jamil used her Women of the Year award acceptance speech to call out toxic beauty ideals
At 2024's Women of the Year Awards, Jameela reflected on the direction of conversations around the wellbeing of women and girls is going, pointing out that we've had some speed bumps in terms of progress post-#MeToo.
“The patriarchy seeks to distract, destroy and erase us by the time we get older because we become harder to control," she said in her speech. "Because we become too valuable. And we must not find out, otherwise we might start spending more of our energy on things that could even the playing field in this world. We might start getting proper sleep. We might eat enough nutrients. We might become too happy in ourselves and genuinely confident in who we are. Can you imagine what we could do?”
“Why is women’s discomfort and harm still so hyper normalised? Boys are encouraged to build their bodies, and build their futures and legacies. While women and girls are starving, injecting and hurting – and sometimes literally dying – for the fastest possible route to the ever-changing, fickle beauty standard. And this drives me insane because I promise you, you only get better with age.”
Pamela Anderson opened up about being a sexual violence survivor
Pamela was honoured as one of two global Women of the Year in 2024. In her speech, she opened up about her role in Gia Coppola's amazing The Last Showgirl, and her experiences as a sexual violence survivor.
"As a survivor of sexual violence, I now see the pattern I was stuck in and what I was trying to achieve in my own way to exert my own power. And I know it takes tremendous strength to heal, and I thank everyone who's supported me on this journey. These last few years have felt like a fresh slate. I'm on my path, a new glorious and imperfect one, but the lesson I've learned is not to let what's happened to me define me what I do.
“I dedicate this award to women everywhere, rising above their painful paths and finding the courage to be their best selves. God bless you, and thank you."
