How to Be an Ally Against Asian-Hate Crime, Meet the First Native American Cabinet Member and More! No images? Click here My Isolation Diary By Emily Vogel (Source: Giphy) Dear Diary, Taylor Swift released two albums during quarantine, while my greatest accomplishment was watching five seasons of “Outlander.” In case you missed the Grammys on Sunday, the singer-songwriter took home an award for Album of the Year. You go Tay!! This year’s ceremony was a little different than in years past. For starters, all of the nominees sat outside, in what I can only imagine felt like a bougie company picnic. The kind of event where the host tells you, “don’t worry, it’s going to be a casual backyard thing.” So, you show up in jean cutoffs and Old Navy flip flops only to be greeted by an army of Gucci belts sipping Cristal by the tennis courts. Another major difference is that I watched this year's awards show at home with my parents. Which made Meghan Thee Stallion and Cardi B’s performance of “WAP” almost as uncomfortable as the time I watched “Bridgerton” with my mom. The choreography didn’t start out so R-rated though, there was tap dancing and money flying. It was like watching little orphan Annie have a playdate in Daddy Warbucks’ cash vault. But things escalated quickly and I think we might all need therapy now (I wonder if they give family discounts?). Additional event highlights include, Beyoncé making history for the most Grammy wins ever, Billie Eilish winning Record of the Year for the second time in a row and H.E.R. taking home the trophy for Song of the Year. Plus, who could forget the epic performances by Dua Lipa, Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Haim. Check-out the full list of winners here. With all the great music and girl power, I’m counting down the days until I’m back at a crowded bar with my girlfriends, holding on to each other’s hands for dear life as we push our way to the dance floor. Women Score Record 76 Oscar Nominations (Source: Getty Images) Did you hear that? It was the sound of a glass ceiling shattering. The Academy on Monday nominated a record 70 women with a total of 76 Oscar nominations, the highest total ever and the biggest step toward gender parity. Based on TheWrap’s count 76 of the 235 individual nominees across all 23 competitive categories from this year’s crop of films are women, or approximately 32.3%. Percentage wise, that’s just ahead of the 31.1% achieved in 2020’s nominations, when women received 65 of the 209 individual nominations across 24 competitive categories (this year Best Sound Mixing and Sound Editing were combined into one category). It’s also up from past years when 62 of 225 nominees in 2019 (27.5%) were women, as were 57 of 213 individual nominees in 2018 (26.8%) and 48 of 211 in 2017 (22.7%). Beyond the numbers alone, this was a year of exciting firsts; Zhao and Fennell together became the sixth and seventh women to be nominated in the Best Director field, the first time two women have ever been nominated for Best Director. There's Been a Rise in Anti-Asian Attacks. Here's How to be an Ally to the Community(Credit: Wynne Neilly for TIME ) You may be wondering what you can do to help the Asian and Asian-American communities, amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States. Here are some key ways you can aid communities even if you don't have the funds to donate. 1. Read before you share resources: Make sure the ones that you're sharing are rooted in facts, because even the most well-intentioned person could spread misinformation. 2. Learn how to organize: Actor Daniel Dae Kim told USA TODAY that a lot can happen on a local level: "We need to be able to contact our local (district attorneys) and the Department of Justice to discuss how we can deter (these crimes) and how we can prosecute them properly." 3. Read up on the history of and present day anti-Asian racism in the United States: This can be done through news articles, books and television. Netflix's "Amend" touches on anti-Asian history in its sixth episode. 4. Remember that racism can be unlearned: In order to unlearn racism, you need to question your own privileges, take a look at the media you consume and accept the fact you will make mistakes. 5. Sometimes your first instinct may not be the best instinct when reaching out to friends or colleagues: CNBC's Make It has a helpful tips for those looking for guidance in the workplace. It’s Good to Be Difficult: Shonda Rhimes’s Leadership Lessons(Credit: Norman Jean Roy) Shonda Rhimes is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs. In an exclusive excerpt from Glamour's new book "Glamour: 30 Years of Women Who Have Reshaped the World," the greatest showrunner of our time reveals her blueprint for success. "I never thought there was a problem with being called bossy, bitchy, or difficult," said the "Grey's Anatomy" producer. "I was raised to believe I belong in every single room I’ve ever been in." Even when you've made it into the room, it's also okay to not always be right. "There’s real power in admitting you’ve done something wrong and re-approaching the problem with a solution," said Rhimes. "The biggest mistake people make in terms of owning power is not being able to admit they don’t know something," she added. So just own it. Whatever you do, give it your 100% and let your work reflect what's important to you. "As I progressed working on my shows, it was important that they not just be run, but run well, and in a way that reflected me and my values," said Rhimes. Deb Haaland Makes History as First Native American Cabinet Member(Source: Jim Watson/AP) Deb Haaland, a member of New Mexico's Laguna Pueblo, has become the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Her confirmation is as symbolic as it is historic. For much of its history, the Interior Department was used as a tool of oppression against America's Indigenous peoples. In addition to managing the country's public lands, endangered species and natural resources, the department is also responsible for the government-to-government relations between the U.S. and Native American tribes. "Indian country has shouted from the valleys, from the mountaintops, that it's time. It's overdue," Sandia Pueblo tribal member Stephine Poston told NPR after Haaland was nominated. It's not the first time Haaland has made history. In 2018, she became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. How Warriors Founder Alexis Ren Makes Mentorship More Accessible to Women Amid the PandemicThe term “influencer” is “way past over,” according to model and entrepreneur Alexis Ren. “We’re becoming more like educators or impactors,” the social media star said in an interview with WrapWomen. “I knew around the age of 20 that I wanted to be a mentor,” Ren said, recalling an old note she had written in 2017 that read, “I want to help girls and I want to connect with them once a week.” Flash forward four years, and that’s exactly what she’s doing with Warriors. What started as a workout program during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a female-focused mentorship platform. From group Zoom calls every Friday to different focus topics every month, the digital platform has attracted everyone from 15-year-old girls to 35-year-old mothers. “We are working right now on getting a ‘money month’ going so we can learn about investing and taxes and how to save,” Ren said. While Ren designed Warriors to help other women connect and grow, the entrepreneur has also undergone her own transformation. “Being homeschooled, I had this belief that I wasn’t as smart as everyone else,” she said. “When I get to speak to these girls I get to speak to myself again.” Women Directors Film Festival (March 19-20)(Source: NFMLA) Join our community partner NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) for their annual Women Directors Film Festival on March 19-20! Catch a selection of films from emerging women directors that includes three shorts programs rich with a variety of stories, genres and perspectives, along with Fall Back Down, an exciting first feature by writer-director SB Edwards. Who Run the World?! Girls. WrapWomen is a power base of influential women of entertainment, media, technology and brands committed to changing the face of their industries. Sure to stay up-to-date on all things WrapWomen at www.wrapwomen.com. Join the conversation on social media! Follow us on Instagram for surprise guest takeovers and Insta live performances. |