How a Grown Ass Woman Celebrated the International Day of the Girl

I got to celebrate the International Day of the Girl with the NYC Leadership Council for The “Because I Am A Girl” campaign. I was on a panel with some amazing and accomplished women who have done well in male-dominated fields. For a quick second I was tempted to wonder what the hell I was doing there, but I’ve gotten into the habit of telling imposter syndrome to kiss my black ass. (Read your resume. Own your accomplishments.)

What really touched me at this event was looking into the faces of the women in the audience and seeing that the message of female empowerment still matters; especially now when the stakes are so high.

Throughout my career I’ve had people (men and women) who were (and are) kind enough to advise and mentor me; and they weren’t always from the field of entertainment. Some themes are universal: education, persistence, and confidence.

​I got the opportunity to tell the young women in the room not to be afraid to ask for help; and the experienced women not to hesitate to give it. Every woman’s success is our collective success as a gender and as a species. Not only do #GirlsBelongHere but we deserve to be whatever the hell we want to be, #BecauseIAmAGirl.