Pose star Michaela Jaé “Mj” Rodriguez, Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, poet Amanda Gorman, actress Kerry Washington, Sherrilyn Ifill and Jennie Joseph were named on Time Magazine’s 2022 Women of the Year list.
Other honorees include human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, singer Kacey Musgraves, software engineer Tracy Chou, Adena Friedman, Amanda Nguyen and journalist Zahra Joya.
“When we sat down last fall to conceive a version of this project that could become an ongoing tradition, we chose to spotlight leaders who are working to create a better future for women everywhere,” Time executive editor Naina Bajekal and senior editor Lucy Feldman wrote of the project. “Our 2022 Women of the Year list features 12 individuals who have reached across communities, generations, and borders to fight for a more inclusive and equitable world.”
The honorees were invited to speak at the magazine’s Women of the Year gala, which was held on International Women’s Day in Los Angeles. Washington spoke on stage about how her journey as an actress led her to become a power player in Hollywood and how every woman should be their own Olivia Pope in order to secure a better political future in their local communities and in Washington, D.C.
“The reason we got into this situation is because we believed a person on television could fix things, and the only way we can save our democracy is if we realize we are the Olivia Popes of our communities and families,” Washington told Katie Couric at the event on Tuesday. “So how do we remind people that they wear the white hat?”
Washington puts on her proverbial white hat through her work with her production company, Simpson Street, by promoting the stories of Black women and other women of color. She campaigned on the ground on behalf of U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Washington also supported Stacey Abrams in her fight against nationwide voter suppression.
Felix, an Olympic gold medalist, opened up about how her journey into motherhood has inspired her to become an activist for maternal health. Felix welcomed her daughter in 2018, and the experience highlighted for her how women of color are discriminated against in hospitals.
“When you speak your truth, things happen.”@allysonfelix is one of TIME’s Women of the Year https://t.co/avg0nD7g6S pic.twitter.com/XenAX7lank
— TIME (@TIME) March 8, 2022
“I think we’re really seeing women of color, our pain is not believed,” she said at the event, according to Time. “We have to advocate for our own health. There’s so much implicit bias in the medical field. We need to change that and listen to and believe women.”
“I feel so fortunate I was able to walk out the hospital with my family and that’s not the case for so many women. What’s heartbreaking is so many of these deaths are preventable,” she continued.
