Caitlyn Jenner presents rousing speech while accepting ESPYS courage award
Source: smh.com.au
Now that's how you make an entrance at the ESPY Awards.
"I owe a lot to sports. It's showed me the world," Caitlyn Jenner said during her first major public appearance as the recipient of ESPN's 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
"If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead," she said inside the Nokia Theater, surrounded by fellow athletes. "The reality is, I can take it."
Caitlyn Jenner accepts the Arthur Ashe Courage Award onstage during The 2015 ESPYS in LA. Photo: Kevin Winter
It was a big moment for Caitlyn - formerly Bruce - whose new E! show, I Am Cait, is set to premiere on July 26.
Jenner skipped the red carpet, choosing instead to make an appearance onstage cheered on by her famous family (who assembled with pride backstage), from Kim Kardashian to Kendall Jenner.
Caitlyn Jenner accepts the Arthur Ashe Courage Award onstage during The 2015 ESPYS. Photo: Kevin Winter
"Please be kind to me. I'm new at this," said Jenner at the podium, directed to the fashion police, wearing an ivory Atelier Versace dress, accompanied by Beladora emerald, pearl and diamond earrings and a glittering cuff.
The simple, elegant look was crafted by power Hollywood stylist Jen Rade. The same woman who dresses Angelina Jolie.
"I have to say my heart is POUNDING WITH EXCITEMENT for the world to see what I have seen!!!" tweeted Rabe hours before the broadcast.
Jenner continued: "I dealt with my situation on my own, in private, and that turned this journey into an already incredible education."
Her ESPYs appearance follows a strategic media plan: She first gave an exclusive 20/20 interview to Diane Sawyer in April and took the world by surprise as Vanity Fair's July cover girl.
Jenner then set the world record for followers on Twitter (beating Obama and her step daughter Kim Kardashian West). Recently, she's begun a syndicated weekly column, The Real Me and travelled to New York to celebrate marriage equality during Gay Pride.
The team behind the ESPYs shot down any criticism pre-broadcast. "I think Caitlyn's decision to publicly come out as a transgender woman and live as Caitlyn Jenner displayed enormous courage and self-acceptance," ESPY Awards co-executive producer Mandt Schell told Sports Illustrated in May.
"Bruce Jenner could have easily gone off into the sunset as this American hero and never have dealt with this publicly. Doing so took enormous courage. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time. That is what the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is about, somebody from the athletic community who has done something that transcends sport."
Past Arthur Ashe Courage Awards winners include Jim Valvano, Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Billie Jean King, former women's college basketball coach Pat Summitt, Good Morning America's Robin Roberts and Michael Sam, the NFL league's first openly gay player.
"It's about what happens from here," Jenner concluded. "It's not just about one person. It's about thousands of people. It's not just about me. It's about all of us accepting one another."
Source: smh.com.au
