This year, the Golden Globe Awards left us pleasantly surprised with its thoughtful, unique approach to celebrating and honoring female talent. From meaningful speeches to captivating performances, these 10 magical moments brought by the ladies of Hollywood at this year’s awards show will undoubtedly go down in history.

1. Gina Rodriguez encourages us to recognize that every day is an opportunity for greatness.

Rodriguez was taken aback by the Best Actress award, not only because it signified her hard work on Jane The Virgin but also as a way of giving recognition to her Latina community. By accepting that award she wanted to tell all those who felt powerless or inadequate – “I have achieved and so can you!”

“First and foremost, the nomination alone was a win for me because it allowed our culture, it allowed Latinos to see themselves in a beautiful light. For me, the win meant everything.” (NBCNews)

2. Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks out on eliminating gender discrepancies and the true roles of women in Hollywood.

With so much discussion concerning the shift to granting women in Hollywood more powerful, leading roles, Gyllenhaal – Best Actress in a Mini-Series award recipient – claims it is something even better.

“When I look around the room at the women who are in here and I think about the performances that I’ve watched this year, what I see are women who are sometimes powerful and sometimes not. Sometimes sexy, sometimes not. Sometimes honorable, sometimes not. And what I think is new is the wealth of roles for actual women in television and in film.” (TIME)

3. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey’s shout out to Amal…and George.

This year, Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney skyrocketed to the peak of fame as a couple. While George was awarded a lifetime achievement award that night, it can be argued that Amal too deserved such recognition.

4. Jill Soloway was presented with Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical for her work on Transparent.

Transparent is an unprecedented show; it’s the first series ever to be based on a transgender woman, and the win for Amazon has made Golden Globes history. Furthermore, its female creator has helped to break through barriers in television production. All of these elements have spurred Transparent into becoming part of momentous history!

“This award is dedicated to the memory of Leelah Alcorn and too many trans people who die too young. And it’s dedicated to you, my trans parent, my moppa. You’re watching at home right now. I just want to thank you for coming out because in doing so you made a break for freedom, you told your truth, you taught me how to tell my truth and make this show. And maybe we’re going to be able to teach the world something about authenticity and truth and love. To love.” (TIME)

5. Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin take a humorous stance on the age-old debate of whether men can truly be funny or not.

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are arguably two of the most hilarious people ever, exemplifying what it means to truly be a leader in comedy.

6. Emma Stone and Lorde are setting an example of true female empowerment – proving who wears the pants!

As we all know, the Golden Globe’s red carpet is always a sight to behold – both for gorgeous ball gowns and fashion fails. However, this year Emma Stone and Lorde stole the show with their outstanding edgy looks that oozed sophistication! They truly crushed it.

7. Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey graciously thanked her devoted fans in a heartfelt speech.

It’s no shock that such a powerful character on Downtown Abby delivered an emotional and impactful speech in person. Utilizing her award as a platform, Froggatt reflected upon the strong response she received for portraying a survivor of sexual assault.

“After this storyline aired I received a small number of letters from survivors of rape and one woman summed up the thoughts of many by saying she wasn’t sure why she’d written, but she just felt in some way she wanted to be heard. And I’d just like to say ‘I heard you’ and I hope saying this so publicly means in some way you feel the world hears you.” (Telegraph)

8. Patricia Arquette is providing single mothers with a platform to be heard.

Arquette’s remarkable 12-year commitment to Boyhood and her role as a lone mother were pivotal in securing the Best Supporting Actress award. She deeply felt acceptance speech displayed this palpable dedication, proving that passion is key in film production.

“You placed in my hands the part of Olivia, an under-appreciated single mother. Thank you for shining a light on this woman and the millions of women like her and for allowing me to honor my own mother with this beautiful character.” (Huffington Post)

9. Reese Witherspoon and Cheryl Strayed gracefully make their way along the red carpet together.

Despite not taking home the coveted Golden Globe, Reese’s red carpet entrance with her date Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, was a show-stopping moment that won over viewers.

10. #AskHerMore campaign.

SmartGirls and The Representation Project sought to move beyond the traditional red carpet questions such as “Who are you wearing?” Their hashtag was a hit all night long.

.@eonline We want to know about more than just who/what a celeb is wearing! #AskHerMore on the #ERedCarpet + inspire girls everywhere!!

AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) January 11, 2015

[Related: 7 Amazing Celebrity Quotes on Boosting Your Own Self-Confidence]

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