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Being in the public eye 24/7 isn’t easy, especially when you’re being constantly scrutinized for every outfit you wear, every meal you eat, and every move you make. This is a struggle actress Gabourey Sidibe knows all too well, and yet she’s more confident than most “traditionally beautiful” famous folks.

Late last week, Sidibe took the stage at the Ms. Foundation for Women Gloria Awards and Gala to reveal the secret to her confidence and share what gives her the strength to carry on.

The young actress began her speech by revealing the question she’s asked the most: “How are you so confident?” She revealed that she often wonders if stars like Rihanna are asked the same question, or if it’s just her. She shared with the audience that it was her parents’ powerful words and a photo of her famous feminist grandmother Dorothy Pitman Hughes that inspired her and shaped her into the person she is today. Her speech forced listeners to take a look at themselves and think about the hateful things they say, think or tweet about celebrities who step out in looks they don’t like.

“Gabourey, how are you so confident?” It’s not easy. It’s hard to get dressed up for award shows and red carpets when I know I will be made fun of because of my weight. There’s always a big chance if I wear purple, I will be compared to Barney. If I wear white, a frozen turkey. And if I wear red, that pitcher of Kool-Aid that says, ‘Oh, yeah!’ Twitter will blow up with nasty comments about how the recent earthquake was caused by me running to a hot dog cart of something. and ‘Diet or Die?’

That is what I deal with every time I put on a dress. This is what I deal with every other time someone takes a picture of me. Sometimes when I’m being interviewed by a fashion reported, I can see it in her eyes, ‘How is she getting away with this? Why is she so confident? How does she deal with that body? Oh my God, I’m going to catch fat!’ What I would say, it my mom moved by brother and I to my aunt’s house. Her name is Dorothy Pitman Hughes, she is a feminist, an activist, and a lifelong friend of Gloria Steinem. Every day, I had to get up and go to school where everyone made fun of me, and I had to go home to where everyone made fun of me. Every day was hard to get going, no matter which direction I went. And on my way out of the house, I found strength. In the morning on the way out to the world, I passed by a portrait of my aunt and Gloria together. Side by side they stood, one with long beautiful hair and one with the most beautiful, round Afro hair I had ever seen, both with their fists held high in the air. Powerful. Confident. And every day as I would leave the house…I would give that photo a fist right back. And I’d march off into battle. I didn’t know that I was being inspired then. On my way home, I’d walk back up those stairs, I’d gibe that photo the fist again, and continue my march back in for more battle. I didn’t know I was being inspired then, but I was. If they could feel like that, maybe I could! I just wanted to look that cool. But it made me feel that strong.

‘How are you so confident?” It’s my good time, and my good life, despite what you think of me. I love my life, because I dare to show up when everyone else might hide their faces and hide their bodies in shame. I show up because I’m and asshole, and I want to have a good time. And my mother and my father love me. They wanted the best life for me, and they didn’t know how to verbalize it. And I get it. I really do. They were better parents to me than they had themselves. I’m grateful to them, and to my fifth grade class, because if they hadn’t made me cry, I wouldn’t be able to cry on cue now. If I hadn’t been told I was garbage, I wouldn’t have learned how to show people I’m talented. And if everyone had always laughed at my jokes, I wouldn’t have figured out how to be so funny. If they hadn’t told me I was ugly, I never would have searched for my beauty. And if they hadn’t tried to break me down, I wouldn’t know that I’m unbreakable.

So when you ask me how I’m so confident, I know what you’re really asking me: How could someone like me be so confident?

Go ask Rihanna, asshole!”

The American Horror Story: Coven star’s words impacted everyone in the room. We can only hope they’ll continue to impact women and young girls around the world.

SOURCE: Necole Bitchie | PHOTO CREDIT: WENN.