【2002 Archives】

Raise your glasses—Pink has taken home the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award at the 2017 MTV VMA awards.

While002 Archivesstage at this year's ceremony, everyone's favorite empowering 37-year-old singer performed a medley of hits spanning her career. She went home with what is basically the lifetime achievement award for the network, and imparted some inspiring words for the audience and fans watching at home.

Ellen Degeneres presented the award to Pink, after a last minute request from the singer herself who asked Degeneres to replace Cher, who was unable to make the ceremony for unknown reasons.

"If I may tell you a quick story," Pink began her acceptance speech, going into a story about how her daughter grappled with self-esteem.

"'Momma, I'm the ugliest girl I know,'" Pink said her daughter exclaimed one day. "I said, huh? She was like, 'I look like a boy with long hair.' My brain went to, oh my God you're six, where is this coming from?" Pink said.

"I didn't say anything. Instead I went home and made a PowerPoint presentation for her. In that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth and are probably made fun of everyday of their life and carry on and wave their flag and inspire the rest of us," Pink continued, naming musicians like Annie Lennox, Prince, George Michael, Elton John, and Michael Jackson.

Pink ended her stirring story with a poignant statement. "We don't change—we take the gravel in the shell and make a pearl," she said. "We help other people to change to see more kinds of beauty. Thank you for being your true selves and lighting the way for us," she continued, acknowledging the other artists at the award show.

"You my darling girl are beautiful and I love you," she said to her daughter, who was in the crowd.

The award, which recognizes revolutionary artists and their music videos throughout the years, has gone to everyone from David Bowie to Beyoncé in previous years.

Leave it to Pink to never fail at getting the party started and making you cry just a little bit, even after 17 years in the game.

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