Quotes
“ If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. ”
— Michelle Williams
Entertainment Women She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL WIL-yumz
She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL WIL-yumz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Williams after her co-star donated his reshoot fee to close the pay gap between them.
“ I remember that love conquers fear, always, and that to be a man means accepting myself, weaknesses and all. That's my true superpower. ”
— Terry Crews
Entertainment Male Role Models Male Allies He / Him · Pronounced: TAIR-ee KROOZ
He / Him · Pronounced: TAIR-ee KROOZ
Context Crews, who has spoken openly about surviving sexual assault, on redefining strength as honesty rather than hardness. Included as both a role model and an ally standing with survivors.
“ The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. ”
— Viola Davis
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
Context The first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama.
“ Turn your wounds into wisdom. ”
— Oprah Winfrey
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: OH-prah WIN-free
She / Her · Pronounced: OH-prah WIN-free
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Winfrey on turning hardship into insight, a thread running through her own story.
“ Depression is not as easy as saying, 'Just find your joy and you're going to become happy.' That was never my experience. ”
— Jonathan Van Ness
Entertainment LGBTQ+ They / Them · Pronounced: JON-uh-thun VAN NESS
They / Them · Pronounced: JON-uh-thun VAN NESS
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Van Ness pushing back on the idea that depression can be resolved by simply choosing happiness.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ I was everywhere with everybody, and at the same time I was all by myself. ”
— Trevor Noah
Entertainment Black Global South He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Noah on the isolation of not fully belonging to any one group growing up.
“ Europeans didn't vibe with the way women held power in many Native societies. ”
— Lily Gladstone
Entertainment Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: LIL-ee GLAD-stohn
She / Her · Pronounced: LIL-ee GLAD-stohn
Source: Vanity Fair interview · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Gladstone on the erasure of matrilineal power structures in many Indigenous nations.
Read More: Indigenous Voices
“ I think having a baby sliced out of you is pretty hardcore. ”
— Ali Wong
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: AH-lee WONG
She / Her · Pronounced: AH-lee WONG
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Wong, known for candid stand-up about pregnancy and motherhood.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ I became an artist, and thank god I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life. ”
— Viola Davis
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
Context Davis's Oscars speech for Fences, on the purpose of her profession.
“ I know that the ones who love us will miss us. ”
— Keanu Reeves
Entertainment Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: kee-AH-noo REEVZ
He / Him · Pronounced: kee-AH-noo REEVZ
Context Reeves' answer when asked what he thinks happens when we die, widely shared for its quiet warmth.
“ Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. ”
— Laverne Cox
Entertainment Women Black Trans LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Cox on visibility itself as resistance.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ I remember when I decided to be open about my own personal mental health, it was scary to be that vulnerable and I didn't ever want anyone to think I am a victim. I thought by sharing my own story I could help others. ”
— Selena Gomez
Entertainment Women Latinx She / Her · Pronounced: suh-LEE-nuh GOH-mez
She / Her · Pronounced: suh-LEE-nuh GOH-mez
Source: Billboard interview · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Gomez on why she chose to speak publicly about her own mental health struggles.
Read More: Latinx Voices
“ Language brings with it an identity and a culture, or at least the perception of it. A shared language says 'We're the same.' A language barrier says 'We're different.' ”
— Trevor Noah
Entertainment Black Global South He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Noah, who grew up mixed-race under apartheid South Africa, on language as a tool of belonging or exclusion.
“ Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. ”
— Fred Rogers
Entertainment Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: FRED ROJ-erz
He / Him · Pronounced: FRED ROJ-erz
Source: The World According to Mister Rogers · original link to be verified
Context From Rogers' published collection of reflections on kindness and care.
“ If your dream only includes you, it's too small. ”
— Ava DuVernay
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: AY-vuh doo-vur-NAY
She / Her · Pronounced: AY-vuh doo-vur-NAY
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context DuVernay, a leading film-maker, on ambition that makes room for others.
“ It's hard as a young person of a different ethnicity or background to look at the TV and not see anyone who looks like you. ”
— Zendaya
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Zendaya on why on-screen representation matters to young viewers.
Their Story American actor who became the youngest woman ever, and the second Black woman, to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in 'Euphoria', a win she repeated in 2022.
Her Emmy acceptance speeches are direct primary sources. See Their Full Story
“ There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself. ”
— Hannah Gadsby
Entertainment Women LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: HAN-uh GADZ-bee
She / Her · Pronounced: HAN-uh GADZ-bee
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context From Gadsby's show Nanette, which reframed stand-up around trauma and survival.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Being kind is a choice that you can make absolutely every single day. ”
— Tom Hanks
Entertainment Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: TOM HANKS
He / Him · Pronounced: TOM HANKS
Context Hanks, promoting his role as Fred Rogers, on the choice at the centre of Rogers' philosophy.
“ There is hope in the young people out there. And I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets: I see you, I admire you, I thank you. ”
— Zendaya
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
Context Zendaya, the youngest woman and second Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, in her acceptance speech during a summer of protest.
Their Story American actor who became the youngest woman ever, and the second Black woman, to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in 'Euphoria', a win she repeated in 2022.
Her Emmy acceptance speeches are direct primary sources. See Their Full Story
“ Why not me? ”
— Mindy Kaling
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: MIN-dee KAY-ling
She / Her · Pronounced: MIN-dee KAY-ling
Context The title question of Kaling's memoir, on claiming opportunity.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ I'm a proud person who happens to be deaf. ”
— Marlee Matlin
Entertainment Women Disabled She / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee MAT-lin
She / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee MAT-lin
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Matlin on being defined by more than her deafness.
Read More: Disability Rights
