Sylvia Earle is a Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year!

November 11, 2014

Monday night in New York City, Dr. Sylvia Earle was among ten honorees of the Glamour Magazine 2014 Women of the Year Award. Comedian and television host James Corden hosted the star-studded awards gala at Carnegie Hall alongside an A-list of presenters including Stephen Colbert and Whoopi Goldberg. By celebrating luminaries from entertainment, philanthropy, education, fashion, and politics, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine Cindi Leive highlighted the extraordinary achievements of women from a diverse spectrum of fields and backgrounds.

“One of the privileges of my job is the front-row seat it gives me to watch some of the most amazing women in the world in action,” said Cindi Leive. “Glamour’s annual tribute to female ‘doers and darers’ honors those trailblazers: ten winners who have made history in 2014.”

Mission Blue founder Dr. Sylvia Earle (“The Explorer”) received a lifetime achievement award from actress Keri Russell for her success in studying and raising awareness about the value, beauty and plight of our ocean.

Chelsea Clinton (“The Women’s Champion”) was honored for her work through the Clinton Foundation in Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania to increase the availability of seeds, fertilizer and low-cost diarrhea treatments that could save the lives of 170,000 children by 2015. She is currently leading No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to empower women and girls around the globe.

Natalia Vodianova (“The Voice for Children”) is a supermodel who was celebrated last night for her work as founder of the Naked Heart Foundation, which works to give children with special needs the resources necessary to live happy and full lives. Creative Director of Alexander McQueen and designer of Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, Sarah Burton (“The Visionary”) was honored for her success in helping lift the British fashion industry. TIME Magazine recently named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power (“The Ambassador”) became a Woman of the Year for her achievements in documenting and working to solve the world’s troubles. She is the youngest permanent representative to the UN. Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts (“The Survivor”) was recognized for her bravery in battling breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome, a life-threatening bone marrow disease, and surviving as a paradigm for women worldwide.

Three notable actresses were honored for their cultural achievements. Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o (“The Breakthrough”) of 12 Years a Slave is the new face of Lancôme and will appear in two upcoming films: The Jungle Book and Star Wars: Episode VII. Laverne Cox (“The Advocate”) was celebrated for her show-stopping role as transgender inmate Sophia Burset on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black, which made her the first openly transgender Emmy nominee. Mindy Kaling (“The Lady Boss”) was named a Woman of the Year for her success in creating, writing, producing and starring in The Mindy Project.

A final 2014 Women of the Year Award was dedicated to The Bravest Girls in the World – 50 million girls worldwide who are unable to attend secondary schools as a result of obstacles like poverty, child marriage and war. Glamour says, “This year Glamour honors every girl, everywhere, who defies the odds in order to go to school. By putting their reputation, family, and own life on the line for their education, these winners are brightening everyone’s future – and with support, they can change the world.”

Past honorees comprised Glamour’s Women of the Year Advisory Board, which helped choose this year’s recipients. L’Oréal Paris was the title sponsor of the awards ceremony.

To see Sylvia Earle’s feature in Glamour and learn about all of the honorees CLICK HERE or pick up the December issue on national newsstands on November 11.

By Courtney Mattison

(Featured image (top): Sylvia Earle on the red carpet before the Glamour Awards. Photo by Sarah Guinan Nixon)