• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Entertainment

Janelle Monae: 'The Most Difficult Trail To Blaze Is The One That Takes Us Inside Of Who We Are'

The multi-talented songstress shared profound words as she accepted the Trailblazer Award at the 2018 Billboard Women In Music event.
Janelle Monae: ‘The Most Difficult Trail To Blaze Is The One That Takes Us Inside Of Who We Are’
By Rachaell Davis · Updated October 23, 2020
Janelle Monae spoke truth to power on Thursday evening as she took to the stage to accept her Trailblazer Award at the 2018 Billboard Women In Music event in NYC. Addressing a room filled with some of the music industry’s top women executives, artists, songwriters, journalists and media, the multi-talented songstress shared that she was humbled to share the space. “It is such an honor to be in this room right now,” she began. “To be in this room with so many cool-ass women.”

.@TierraWhack introduces @JanelleMonae at Billboard's #WomenInMusic pic.twitter.com/7ytZdLcYM9

— billboard (@billboard) December 7, 2018
Monae then turned her attention to rising Hip Hop starlet Tierra Whack, who presented Monae with her award and described her as a “brave, honest and ballsy artist who tells her own truth.” “The way you’re innovating right now is so inspiring to me,” Monae said of Whack. “Keep going. Go further than where I’m taking it. You’re artistic vision and you; you’re so unique.” As an artist who constantly infuses messages of empowerment, self-love and affirmation into her music, Monae’s unwavering dedication to being a strong, unapologetic voice for the communities she represents was evident in her powerful words.

“I’m hesitant, always, to take in any praise or adulation because I’m always aware that it’s not something one can rely on or build a strong foundation on,” she continued. “And my work has always been about my community as much as it is about me.” Capturing the true essence of what it means to be a “trailblazer,” the 33-year-old beauty shared a few profound lessons she’s learned during her career journey thus far. “I’ve discovered, the most difficult trail to blaze is the one that takes us inside of who we are individually and as a whole,” Monae said. “Being a trailblazer is about diving into spaces unseen and undiscovered, which can be very exciting and frightening at the same time. For me, that meant uncovering aspects of who I am in order to create spaces for others.”

This woman is so well-spoken and eloquent. Hear Janelle Monáe's acceptance speech for Trailblazer of the Year at Billboard's #WomeninMusic pic.twitter.com/huhSVc0zFv

— Monáe Looks (@MonaeLooks) December 7, 2018
Watch her speech in full in the video above. Monae was among a list of honorees that included Rulebreaker Award-winner SZA, Icon Award-winner Cyndi Lauper, Impact Award-winners St. Beauty, Innovator Award-winner Kacey Musgraves, Rising Star Award-winner Hayley Kiyoko and Billboard Woman of the Year Award-winner Ariana Grande. Additional presenters and attendees included Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, Kelela, and Anderson.Paak, among others.
TOPICS:  Janelle Monae Music women in music
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now