Zendaya won big on Sunday night (March 7) as she took home the 2021 Critics' Choice Awards SeeHer honor.
The star's Malcom & Marie co-star John David Washington presented the honor to her and she kicked off her speech by giving him a shoutout. "Thank you so much to John David Washinton," Zendaya, 24, said at the top of the presentation. "I'm Incredibly lucky to have you as a friend and also as a scene partner. This means so much to me."
"I think as I was thinking of things to say, the only real thing I can think of is gratitude," she continued. "This word kind of keeps coming to my mind, especially with the year everyone has had. To continue to be grateful for every single moment, big and small. To be grateful for the people in our world and in our life that make the work we do possible. To continue to make sure we hold onto our loved ones a little bit tighter, and make sure we call them, acknowledge them, tell them we love them. And take in moments like this."
"I would absolutely not be here if it weren't for the incredible women that have paved the way for me to be here," she concluded. "So also, I'm extremely grateful for those women. This is very, very special. Thank you so, so much, and — not to overuse the word, but — I am incredibly grateful for this moment."
This accolade makes Zendaya the fifth recipient of the honor, which recognizes a woman who embodies the values highlighted by the SeeHer movement. The campaign advocates for the accurate portrayals of females of all ages in advertising and media. Previous recipients include Kristen Bell, Viola Davis, Claire Foy and Gal Gadot.
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