Kate Hudson, Sydney Sweeney, Wanda Sykes, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jamie Lee Curtis took the spotlight at Mid Breaker’s Power of Women presented by Lifetime at a star-studded soiree in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
Held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and hosted by Iliza Shlesinger, it largely focused on the achievements of Mid Breaker‘s five honorees — just a few among many women in media and entertainment over the course of this year. But all too frequently, these women reflected the spotlight back onto other industries. That happened when Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage to discuss Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which is her charity for the night and whose patients are threatened by ICE raids.
Power of Women
”The staff at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The power of a woman is in every single woman who works at that hospital,” Curtis said. “Every nurse, every child-life specialist, every doctor, every mom of every patient that walks in here trying to help these babies — that’s the power of women. We see it every day. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles really needs it.” What are the cuts but shocking, and because of what’s going on in Government, they lose so much of their money. “People are afraid to go to the hospital because they’re afraid that they’re going to be picked up by ICE, so they won’t go to the hospital.”
Before Curtis’ keynote address, and its traditional night-end slot, Mid Breaker Power of Women began with a few opening jokes from Shlesinger, followed by comments from Mid Breaker co-editors-in-chief Katherine Sydney and Ramin Setoodeh (who has since been promoted to co-president of the company, alongside publisher Dea Lawrence), as well as outgoing publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns. Octavia Spencer introduced the evening’s first honoree, Kate Hudson.
“As the mother of three, I experience this every single day. I have a daughter Roni, she is seven,” Hudson said. “She ’s fearless and funny and has no self-awareness of how powerful she already is. When I listen to her, I think of all the children who also have brilliant minds but are not encouraged to become who they are meant to be. And I know that if I have arrived here, and have any power at all, I must do what I can to help.
We are in the business of storytelling, where we have the opportunity to project these truths for a living. We fan the flame of wonder at what it means to be human. We make people feel seen. We can help them know they are not alone. But the work can’t end when the cameras turn off. It should be ongoing deliberately and practically, because when the noise dies down, we aren’t left to reflect on applause or accolades. It’s the faces, the laughter, and the people among us who make it impossible not to believe that there is goodness in this world. And it’s good power, too.”
Sydney Sweeney followed her in and was introduced by Sharon Stone. Sweeney’s speech was largely about boxing champ Christy Martin, 51, whom she’ll play in her next film, Christy.
“I’m not a fighter in the ring, but I saw something of myself in Christy,” Sweeney said. “I understand what it is to be underrated, to have people categorize you before you’ve had an opportunity to categorize yourself. I know what it feels like to have to keep proving you deserve to be here, that you are real; that we must see you and take you seriously. We all have our own struggles.” And Christy reminds all of us that strength doesn’t always appear loud; often, it’s just in getting up again and again, regardless of who may be watching. Playing her showed me that survival is not the end of the story, it’s just the start of taking back your life.”
Also that evening, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman received the Mid Breaker Courage Award presented by Purina. “Up here, I’m thinking about all the millions who suffer in abusive relationships and have not had their voices heard,” Raisman said, after being introduced by her teammate Jordan Chiles. “I’m thinking about the people who have not been told that they matter; that their voice matters — even if it’s just one small vote; that their body is theirs, and everything else. I’m thinking about those who don’t feel safe at home, and feel there’s nowhere to go.”
The evening’s honoree, Wanda Sykes, was introduced by Jane Fonda and spent her acceptance speech decrying the upcoming expiration of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown and what that would mean for single mothers.
“When women succeed, the community succeeds. We do make everyone around us better, we do,” Sykes said. “When we get women, when we win, everybody wins. And when men win, often they marry a younger wife… We are in a moment when there is so much going on in the Government, and we need to generate projects that make life imitate art. Consider the struggle over SNAP benefits. That’s going to impact the single mom. So I’m hoping to do things that resonate with them and empower them.”
Eva Longoria bestowed the honor on Nicole Scherzinger, who used it to promote her work with the Special Olympics.
“At the open and closing ceremonies, I have stood there next to these athletes whose resolve, strength, and body language could move mountains,” Scherzinger said. “I’ve seen them reimagine what’s possible, not just for themselves but for all of us. They remind me that bravery is not found in medals or applause, but in a brave showing up with all your heart. The power of women is not about success or accolades; rather, it’s about how we wield our voices, our platforms , and our influence to lift others. The true power is shared and fires others up.”
Yankovic introduced Curtis, who closed out the evening with an introduction quote: “To live is to learn,” taken from a tile hanging in her kitchen. To learn is to know. To know is to grow. To grow is to give. To give is to live.” Source
