Words that moved us from the winners of the Harper’s Bazaar India Women of the Year Awards 2024
Glimpses from acceptance speeches that were as powerful as the women who made them.
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Celebrating women who have shaped our culture and shining a spotlight on the work they've done at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards made for a spectacular Saturday. The night witnessed us honour the journeys of trailblazing women whose excellence, creativity, and influence in fields as diverse as sports and acting to fashion, literature and philanthropy is nothing short of inspirational. With 18 super achievers creating a chain of empowerment as every award winner presented the award to and celebrated the next on stage, their acceptance speeches were as heartening as the women who made them.
From the likes of Ananya Panday, Avani Lekhara, Gauri Khan, and Isha Ambani, here are some of the most incredible things we heard.
Isha Ambani, Woman of the Year Icon
"I’d like to dedicate this award to my daughter, who inspires me every day to do more and do better. And my mother, my role model, who’s paved the way for me. Thank you for walking so that I could run. I dedicate this award to her."
Avani Lekhara, Sportsperson of the Year
“When I started shooting, I didn’t know that my journey would lead me to winning two Paralympic medals. Both Paris and Tokyo were more than just medals for me. It was more about showing people that we can do a lot of things. When we see a person in a wheelchair, it’s too hard to see and imagine beyond their disabilities. I just want everyone to know that by seeing this award, we, too, believe that we can achieve and we can thrive. As a 22-year-old shooter, life is like shooting, sometimes you hit the target, most of the time you don’t. What’s important is that you should focus and always keep showing up. When I go to the range and shoot the target, I always think that if I can do it, anyone can.”
Anita Dongre, Fashion Designer of the Year
“Today, I think of the 18-year-old Anita, whose only purpose was to create designs that made women feel confident and began her journey to create a fashion empire. Today, the 18-year-old is living the dream and so much more. I’m fortunate to impact so many lives and I am mindful of the community. I want women to dream and dream big. Break the shackles of a belief system that says you can’t do it. You can, and you will. I’m thrilled to get this award from Avani Lekhara. Ever since I read about her, I’ve not stopped thinking about her, her grit and determination.”
Jonita Gandhi, Musician of the Year
“I had a lot of dreams; it’s been a fun ride and crazy journey where I’ve sung for blockbuster films and got discovered by Rahman sir. There have been challenges along the way, and I’ve had my fair share of nights thinking, ‘Is it because I’m a girl?’ and would things be different if I was a man? I realised that in a lot of those experiences the people who lift me up are women. I would like to dedicate this award to my mom. Having a strong woman in your life can really be the difference between life and death when you need support.”
Kriti Sanon, Actor of the Year
“It’s so nice to be here celebrating women. Today, I feel really privileged to be in a time where you can do it all, you only need to dream. Women are getting roles that are written very well and the films are doing well. I feel that we can branch out and do what we feel like. We’re only limited by our minds. So let’s not do that.”
Geetanjali Shree, Author of the Year
“No award is just to the individual who gets it. It’s also to the world that has nurtured that individual and her work and brought her here. So this award also belongs to Hindi and Hindi literature and to literature in Indian languages. I’m happy and filled with pride and humility today.”
House of Misu, Luxury Content Creator of the Year
“A huge thank you to our husbands, our human tripods. Behind every successful content creator, there’s an impatient husband at the back, holding a camera. It takes a woman lifting up another woman to raise the entire female community. So keep doing it and cheering each other.”
Namrata Soni, Makeup Artist of the Year
“I’d entered an industry when women makeup artists were not allowed to work. We had to fight the union to be where we are today, hide in vanity vans. Without the support of actors and directors, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Ananya Panday, Spotlight Actor of the Year
“I’m honestly just a product of the people I work with—writers, actors, directors and producers, And finally, writers and directors are really seeing women for who they are. There’s a lot of space for women, we are making this space for ourselves. It’s a great time to be an actress.”
Natasha Poonawala, Style Icon of the Year
“I’m a bit of a late bloomer stepping out of my fashion closet. As a teen fashion victim and enthusiast, my 20s was a phase of desperately trying to fit in. This was hard, given the sheer volume of my outfits. I invested in timeless fashion, accidentally becoming a collector. To me, realist expression is my true freedom. I aim to inspire, amuse and position my fashion armour as wearable art. My tastes keep evolving. I never stop learning, which leads me to the next stage of my journey guided by my 9-year-old. My mission is to buy less, buy well, buy vintage, reuse, recycle, and rent for the sake of the planet, of which we have just one.”
Gauri Khan, Interior Designer of the Year
“My design journey began when I was 40. So, to all the women out there, age should never hold you back. When you want to start any business, your age should never come in your way. When you dream it, you can achieve it. That’s my mantra.”
Also read: 5 female writers who celebrate womanhood and champion individuality through their works
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