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Glamour’s Women Of The Year Awards took place earlier this week and Lada Gaga was among the 12 women honored (along with Kerry Washington, Malala Yousafzai, Gabby Giffords, Christy Turlington Burns and Melinda Gates). In Gaga’s epic acceptance speech, she said, “If I could forfeit my Glamour cover, I would give it to Malala.” Malala Yousafzai is a 16-year-old Pakistani activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban as she protested a ban on girls’ education a year ago. Gaga’s message is one of maturity and responsibility and I love her for it. Gaga continued, “A lot of people in this room have a lot. When you go home, ask yourself: How can I do more?”

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As an unconventional activist, Lady Gaga has been an advocate for gay rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, natural disaster relief and has even launched the “Born This Way Foundation,” which focuses on youth empowerment and issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring, and career development. I love that Lady Gaga uses her star power for good and wants to urge the media to highlight activists like Malala who aren’t “celebrated” like she is.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gaga confessed that she thinks now is the time we need to be honoring more than just celebrities. “I am very grateful that I was chosen to be on the cover, but I think it’s really an important time to look at the sphere of all the women that are being honored tonight. And to turn glamour into something that’s not on the outside, but something that’s on the inside.” Sure celebs typically display an element of physical beauty, but what about the beauty that goes beyond skin deep, like Malala’s incredible story of triumph from tragedy?

It must have been Malala’s riveting speech that inspired Lady Gaga to speak up, “I believe that a gun has no power at all,” she said. “Because a gun can only kill. A pen can give life, a pen can save life,” Malala stated. “There is no freedom, but still there is hope,” Yousafzai said in reference to the limited opportunities of young women in Pakistan. “We are not toys. We are not stickers you put on magazines. We are not puppets. We are human beings with capabilities and potentials.”

While Glamour may not adhere to Lady Gaga’s longing for Malala to be on the cover, the conversation has been given the spotlight and Malala’s importance to not only Pakistan, but women all over the world has been heavily felt. I’d love to see Malala on the cover of Glamour, but I’d happily settle for Time, which is more likely. Either way, a special thanks to Lady Gaga for opening up the conversation is in order.

Here’s an “Applause” for you, Lady Gaga!

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