Ms. Rachel Has Poignant Message at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards: ‘Hateful Responses Aren’t What Matters’

We’re always paying attention to what Rachel Accurso, better known to the world as Ms. Rachel, has to say—and not just because she’s mostly speaking in a delightfully high-pitched sing-song voice.

The children’s entertainer and entrepreneur, who was honored tonight as one of Glamour‘s Women of the Year, addressed the (adult) crowd at this year’s WOTY ceremony, held at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

In her speech, Ms. Rachel reflected on the theme of sisterhood, thanking her mother, who raised her and her sister as a single mom, as well as her actual sister, Rebecca.

“We started a band called the Sisteristics so I think that’s really in the spirt of sisterhood,” she said, adding, “it was really weird” to laughter in the room. “She always reminded me that the hateful responses aren’t what matters, what matters are the people who are suffering. And those of us who see things clearly and morally need to support their voices and their calls for justice.”

Ms. Rachel continued with a message of perseverance: “No matter how hard some people try to convince us that empathy is wrong, it’s right,” she said. “No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness—it’s a strength. No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited, it’s limitless.”

Speaking to Glamour’s global editorial director, Samantha Barry, Ms. Rachel opened up about her decision to advocate for children all over the world, specifically in areas of crisis like Gaza and Sudan.

“My love and care for children doesn’t stop at my own children,” she explained. “It doesn’t stop at the children in our country. It embraces every child of the world. I don’t think that our love should end at religion or skin color or where people are born.”

Ms. Rachel arrived alongside her husband Aron Accurso, whom fans often refer to as Mr. Aron. Though the couple make an adorable pair, all eyes were on Ms. Rachel and her stunning evening gown when the two arrived. Her upcycled dress features embroidery on the capelet and train of drawings that were sent to her by Gazan children.