Pink Delivers Moving Speech After Accepting Video Vanguard Award At 2017 VMAs

Pink is one serious role model.

After a wow-worthy medley of her past hits, Pink accepted the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award from Ellen DeGeneres during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. And, in her acceptance speech, Pink let fans everywhere know that they don't have to change for anyone.

Recounting a story about her daughter Willow admitting that she thought she was "ugly," Pink told the VMAs crowd (via USA Today), "She said to me out of the blue, 'Mama, I'm the ugliest girl I know.'"

"And I said, 'Huh?' And she said, 'Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair.' And my brain went to, 'Oh my God, you're six. Where is this coming from? Can I kick a six-year-old's a**?'" Pink continued.

As E! News reported, the 37-year-old then explained that, in order to combat her daughter's crashing self-esteem, she went home and made a PowerPoint presentation to show her daughter examples of gorgeous, androgynous artists like Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Annie Lennox, and Janis Joplin. Pink said she told her daughter that she herself had been bullied for having short hair, looking "masculine," and being "too strong." But, that no matter what people said, she'd remained herself through and through.

"Baby girl, we don't change, we take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl," she explained. "We help other people to change so that they can see more kinds of beauty. And to all of the artists here, I am so inspired by all of you. Thank you for being your true selves. And for, for lighting the way for us."

As Nicki Swift previously reported, Pink released the single "What About Us" on Aug. 9. Her new album, Beautiful Trauma, is slated to drop on Oct. 13.