Doechii, Jill Scott, Saweetie, And More Honored At 2024 Femme It Forward ‘Give Her FlowHERS’ Gala
Femme It Forward held its third annual Give Her FlowHERS Gala on Friday (Nov. 8). It felt like both a necessary exhale and a warm embrace, as The Beverly Hilton became flooded with guests to celebrate impactful trailblazers such as GloRilla, Doechii, Jill Scott, Nija, Chlöe, Halle Bailey, Lady London and Saweetie. The latter both hosted the event and walked away with the Give Her FlowHERS Award.
Glo received the Big Femme Energy award. Doechii was recognized as this year’s Visionary. Chloe x Halle earned the My Sister’s Keeper Award. Nija was honored with the Pen It Forward Award while Lady London earned the Self-Love Award and Jill Scott was recognized with as this year’s MUSE. Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante Broadus were surprise guests and the recipients of the Black Love award.
Tanerélle, Jai’Len Josey, Amaria, and Zyah Belle took the stage to bless attendees with their gift of song.
“This celebration isn’t just about recognition. It’s about planting seeds for a legacy that will last long after us,” said Heather Lowery, CEO and Founder of Femme It Forward, in a statement. “Every year, we honor the trailblazing women who continue to shift culture and open doors, while also lifting up the emerging creatives following in their footsteps. We celebrate, support, and champion women at every stage of their journey because giving women their flowers isn’t just a moment — it’s a movement.”
When speaking with VIBE about having the gala post-election, Lowery shared, “I feel like the week is reflective of what we experience from the day we’re born […] To host a gala in the midst of what’s been going on, it’s challenging, but we got this. We always got it.”
Onstage, both Chloe and Halle got emotional when mutually expressing their deep love for not only their sisterhood, but also their friendship. “To have her by my side, it allows me to never leave myself behind,” said Chlöe. Halle later added, “The truth is I look to my sister in every situation and I know that I could not feel grown or strong without her in my corner.”
Lady London offered us her vulnerability as she reflected on the loss she’s encountered and how she defines self-love. “Self-love means having so much reserve that you can afford overflow. The love and the light that I carry within me is the reason that I can still show up. I harvest inner love for days such as these. Self-love means showing up at your version of 100 percent,” she stated.
Nija praised Femme It Forward’s acknowledgement of songwriters, an often thankless role in the music industry. “We go through so much on a day-to-day basis, whether it be having it feel like we have to be quiet and not be loud about the creations we take pride in. Having to walk in these rooms and fight for equality and also being typecast because when they see me, they see a Black woman and think I only know how to make an R&B song,” said the “MY POWER” songwriter before thanking those that came before her like Esther Dean and Kandi Burruss.
Newly-minted Grammy nominee, Doechii, was presented with the Visionary Award by her mom. “I’m in a really new space in my life and I’m able to accept this award with such a clear mind and a truly, truly renewed spirit,” said the “What It Is” emcee while sharing that she’d just begun her sobriety journey. “To be a visionary, not only do you have to have a vision, but you have to have an unwavering belief and faith in that vision to make it happen. Don’t accept no. You are not too difficult; the job is just too difficult for them.”
LisaRaye McCoy presented Glo with her Big Femme Energy award. “From the moment she stepped into the game, she made it clear that she was here to take up space. She was not here to play […] You making us stand to attention because you’re you,” said the veteran actress of the rapper. Each honoree was given a literal bouquet of flowers with their award and Glo gave hers to LisaRaye as a testament of giving someone their flowers.
“I always live by the three Ds: determination, dedication and diligence and don’t let nobody tell y’all what you can’t do because at the end of the day, the day gotta end,” Glo quipped in her signature accent.
Upon accepting her win, Saweetie thanked God because “without prayer and faith, I woulda lost my mind a long time ago.” She added, “We all know how crazy this industry can get, but tonight we’re safe. Thank you for allowing all of us to be vulnerable.”
Spotify’s Brandon Payano and Alex Isley presented Jill Scott with the MUSE award. The Philly native started her sentiments by stating how this has been “the best year of my life.” She continued, “What a privilege this life has been.” Scott spoke how she finds inspiration and got giddy about the woman that lives inside of her who motivates her as well. “I love what I do so much and the idea that anything I contribute inspires you to maybe feel how you feeling, to laugh a littler harder, to make love a little more passionately, more sincerely—it does such a great deal for my soul and I thank you for that.”
Check out more highlights from Femme It Forward’s 2024 Give Her FlowHERS gala below.
Femme It Forward Give Her FlowHERS Gala 2024
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Heather Lowery, Founder/CEO of Femme It Forward
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Saweetie, Host/Give Her FlowHERS Honoree
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Snoop Dogg, Shante Broadus
Image Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Femme It Forward
GloRilla, Big Femme Energy Award Honoree
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Doechii, Visionary Award Honoree
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Lady London
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Halle Bailey, Chloe Bailey
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Jill Scott, MUSE Recipient
Image Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Femme It Forward
Zyah Belle
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Alex Isley
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Jai’Len Josey
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Jill Scott, Saweetie
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Lady London, Self-Love Award Honoree with Heathey Lowery, Saweetie
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Tanerélle
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Andra Day
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Amaria
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Rockette
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
LisaRaye McCoy
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Saweetie
Image Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Femme It Forward
Brandon Payano, Alex Isley, Jill Scott
Image Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Femme It Forward
Jill Scott
Image Credit: Pamela Garcia-Agurre/Femme It Forward Gala 2024
Dionne Harmon, Jesse Collins
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Elaine
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Amber Grimes
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Jimmy Jam
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Nija Charles
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Jozzy
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Ambré
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Tosh Alexander
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Saweetie
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Claire Sulmers
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Zerina Akers
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Journey Montana
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Amanda Reifer
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
