00:00I've never been celebrated at this level before, so thank you InStyle for recognizing us, you know.
00:07I'm a little overwhelmed, as you guys can see.
00:11I've had like one birthday party in my lifetime, so I'm so grateful for you guys all to be here celebrating artists.
00:20I came up in a time in industry, like pre-social media, where we are, you know, sort of like, you know, trained to just be behind the scenes and sort of just let the work speak.
00:32And, you know, clearly the work is still speaking, you know, as we're all here celebrating artists.
00:38I come from an immigrant family.
00:41I come from Jamaica, the island.
00:44And so this, you know, this was, you know, having this sort of like honor was never, you know, is like beyond my wildest dream.
00:58I grew up in New Jersey, and, you know, I was the girl in school that like did everybody's hair.
01:06And I didn't realize that I was, you know, already becoming an image maker because I was like helping everyone to feel beautiful even back then.
01:14It's really special to be here, you know, so, you know, so many years later and realize that, you know, your work is really what brings you these opportunities.
01:25I've had the fortune to meet and collaborate with so many incredible people at work who have become like family, like, like Z.
01:35And, you know, what's so special about Zassi is that she's somebody that will fight for you.
01:41You know, the artists in, you know, in the room will know that, you know, there's opportunities that come up for people like Carrie had spoken about where, you know, you don't always get a choice to pick, you know, who comes on set.
01:55And Zassi is so fiercely loyal that she's not afraid to vouch for you and to push, you know, to make sure that you're there so that, you know, she feels, you know, safe, you know.
02:10And I think that's a huge part of being an image maker.
02:13You know, we make people feel safe, you know.
02:16And she's not afraid of either walking away from an opportunity or losing it because the industry makes you feel like, you know, you have to say yes to everything.
02:26She will fight for you and I'm so grateful for that.
02:30And, you know, and we are loyal to each other, you know, and we've shared so many beautiful moments.
02:36Like she said, she's come to my house, like I've cooked for her.
02:40Like, you know, she, you know, we share so many intimate moments together.
02:45We're family, you know, so it's so special to have you here to help celebrate me and I'm so grateful.
02:52I am also so grateful to InStyle, you know, for, you know, recognizing me and my peers tonight.
03:00I'm honored to be a symbol as well for, you know, other artists, you know, specifically, you know, black and brown women that, you know, don't always get the opportunity.
03:13You know, as Zassi mentioned, you know, I do work with so many different hair types and textures.
03:17But still, you know, in this industry, it's still a fight where, you know, there are people that only consider you for one particular thing.
03:26So, you know, it's, I'm grateful for people at InStyle that always highlight my work and, you know, help to elevate me as an artist.
03:36I'm super grateful for that.
03:38Specifically, you know, as a black woman in the industry, like, you know, sometimes you're only called on to, you know, when someone has a black client, you know, and it's like, well, hold on.
03:49I do everything.
03:50Why are you only, why are you putting me in this sort of box?
03:53So, I'm grateful for the people at InStyle, you know, Lauren, you know, who's always just been so, so great to me and, and also for you guys to not give up on me.
04:04You know, they've asked me to be here before and, and, you know, it didn't work out, but I'm just so grateful for this opportunity.
04:11I'm overwhelmed, so I'm going to keep it short, but thank you guys for honoring me.
04:16I appreciate you guys.
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