Pink Shares Wisdom on Self-Image and Confidence at VMAs

A Dose of Inspiration To Get Your Day Going..

By Ivy Kuo, Legends Report Writer

Recently at the MTV Video Music Awards, singer Pink was honoured with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, an extraordinary accomplishment in and of itself. However, what really struck me was Pink’s touching speech dedicated to her six-year-old daughter, Willow.

In this video, Pink shares her daughter's struggles with self-image. It started when her daughter said she thought of herself as ugly because she "looks like a boy with long hair."

In that moment, instead of letting her feelings of anger and sadness overtake her, Pink made a Powerpoint presentation featuring androgynous rockstars and artists who “live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their lives, and carry on waving their flags, and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson, and David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury…” the star-studded list went on.

Pink utilised this moment of vulnerability to deliver a powerful lesson to her daughter: that our society’s standards of beauty and gender norms are inconsequential and these standards shouldn’t propel anyone to change.

Pink told Willow that she’s endured taunts and bullying about her physical image throughout her entire career.

“Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?” Pink asked Willow.

“No, mama,” Willow responded.

“Do you see me selling out at arenas all over the world?” Pink asked.

“Yes, mama,” Pink recounted willow responding. The VMA crowd erupted into cheers.

Pink told her daughter, “So, baby girl, we don’t change. We take the gravel in the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so that they can see more kinds of beauty.”

How inspiring it is to see Pink deliver this learning moment, which evolved from her daughter’s insecurity! Pink’s touching speech reminded me not only of the struggles she’s personally faced as a non-traditional pop star, but it also humbled me when I remembered everyone, all over the world, is forced to live up to certain types of physical presentations. Pink’s powerful words reminded us that these superficial standards cannot mask our strong opinions, our mental strength, or our true selves.