Femme it Forward‘s 3rd annual Give Her FlowHERS Awards Gala began with a surprise when Snoop Dogg and his wife Shante Broadus were brought out to receive the Black Love Award.
“This is beautiful because throughout my career I’ve been nominated and won a lot of awards, but there’s nothing like an award that brings you back home to the stage to let people know that this is the reason why you are so successful,” Snoop Dogg said while accepting the award alongside his wife.
“I’ve been nominated for 20 Grammys and never won one, but this right here, this feels better than one,” he continued. “And to the couples out there tonight, it’s always going to be rocky, it’s always going to be hard, but if it’s true love, and it’s meant to be what it’s supposed to be, it’s going to always be good news. That’s real love. Black love.”
Snoop Dogg’s award wasn’t the only unanticipated moment of the ceremony — held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Friday — which celebrated honorees Jill Scott, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, GloRilla, Doechii, Lady London and Nija. Saweetie, who hosted the event, was also presented with the Give Her FlowHers Award.
“I’d like to thank God because without prayer and faith, I would have lost my mind a long time ago,” Saweetie said expressing her gratitude for the honor. “We all know this because we know how crazy this industry can get but tonight this room is safe. Thank you all for allowing all of us to be vulnerable.”
In a moment undoubtedly referencing the results of this week’s presidential election, Femme it Forward founder Heather Lowery, in her opening remarks, acknowledged the disappointment felt by supporters of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
“To the women and girls who are overqualified and undervalued, can you all stand if you felt this way at any point in your journey?” Lowery started. “We want to hold space for you tonight and remind you we see you, we honor you and you are more than enough. You are the reason why we are here tonight. I know we’ve all been overwhelmed with so many emotions over the last few days. I want you to treat your grief the same way you would treat your garden. Nurture it. Give it space, give it time, let it bloom.”
During Chloe and Halle’s acceptance speech for the My Sister’s Keeper Award, the singers doted on one another with Chloe telling her younger sister, “Halle, the best award I have ever received happened 24 years ago when you were born. I am so grateful to God that I get to do life with you. I am better because you are here. I am stronger because you are next to me. Thank you for teaching me about courage and strength.”
Halle returned the praise in kind telling Chloe, “You are my rock sister, I love you so much and thank you for being the ear I could always tell my deepest thoughts to. Thank you for your heart that is capable of loving so deeply and protecting me. I’m honored to call you my sister. Halo is the luckiest boy to have such a great auntie.”
Doechii, fresh off of becoming the first female rapper to receive a Grammy nomination for best rap album in the 2020s, was presented with the Visionary Award by her mother. The award is the first Doechii has received since releasing her album, Alligator Bites Never Heal, she noted in her speech. “I’m able to accept this award with such a clear mind and a truly, truly renewed spirit. I’m recently sober and I never lost connection with God, but I’m able to receive messages from God like I never have before because my mind is clear and I’m present,” she said.
“Because I know that there is always a young Black girl out there that’s watching me, I just want to say that to be a visionary, not only do you have to have a vision, but you have to have an unwavering belief and faith in that vision to make it happen,” Doechii continued. “Don’t accept no. Understand that you are not too difficult, the job is just too difficult for them and God will put you in a position and connect you with people who are able to do the job.”
Fellow rapper GloRilla, in receiving the Big Femme Energy honor, noted she didn’t write a speech, telling attendees, “I ain’t got no teleprompter because I can’t stay up in heels that long.” Still, the Memphis artist, who also received two Grammy nominations on Friday, left the audience with words of wisdom.
“I always live by the three D’s: determination, dedication, and diligence,” said GloRilla. “Don’t let nobody tell y’all what y’all can’t do because at the end of the day, the day gotta end. Every day the sun won’t shine, but that’s why I love tomorrow,” she concluded, referencing the lyrics to her 2022 song “Tomorrow.”
The final award of the evening was presented to Jill Scott who gushed over receiving the Muse Award in her remarks.
“I love what I do so much and the idea that anything that I contribute inspires you to feel how you’re feeling, to laugh a little harder, to make love a little more passionately, more sincerely, it has done such a great deal for my soul and I want to thank you for that,” she stated. “That I could be any part of your joy, your life means the world to me.”