Onya, Angelina Jolie.
“It’s good to be different”.
If there’s one thing Angelina Jolie wants her kids – and kids around the world – to know, it’s this.
Over the weekend, Jolie made first public appearance since having surgery to remove her ovaries and her fallopian tubes removed.
She went to the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and her dates for the night were two of her six children, eight-year-old Zahara and ten-year-old Shiloh.
Upon accepting an award as ‘Best Villain’ for her role in Maleficent, Jolie told the crowd: “When I was little, like Maleficent, I was told that I was different.”
“I felt out of place, and too loud, too full of fire, never good at sitting still, never good at fitting in, and then one day I realised something, something I hope you all realise: different is good.”
Cue generous audience support, of course.
“Don’t fit in, don’t sit still, don’t ever try to be less than what you are, and when someone tells you that you are different, smile and hold you head up high and be proud.
“As your villain I would also say: cause a little trouble, it’s good for you.”
Jolie, 39, recently made headlines when she announced she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in order to prevent cancer.
Related content: Kelly Osborne: “I have the same cancer gene as Angelina Jolie.”
She also had a double mastectomy in 2013 for the same reason.
Jolie is one of many women in possession of the BRCA1 gene, which places women at an 87 per cent chance of getting breast cancer, and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.
Her mother died in 2007 after a decade of fighting ovarian cancer.
You can watch Jolie’s full speech here.
Top Comments
Love the Jolie-Pitts, for many reasons, but especially for their love and acceptance of their diverse family. Interesting that you hyperlink to Shiloh, who Angelina has talked about wanting to be known as John. And, in the piece you link to, you talk about her ignoring gender stereotypes and rocking the suits, but it's much more than that... all signs point to Shiloh being Transgender but is it that we just don't talk about that? Personally, I'm looking forward to the time when Angelina starts talking about 'him' and 'their son John'... what a great learning opportunity for Woman's Day readers that will be.
All signs point to Shiloh being transgender? Seriously she's 8.(mamamia got the age wrong)
Agree whole heartedly. I have seen articles though that talk a lot about it elsewhere :)
Lots of people know at young ages, they just don't know exactly what it is they are feeling or how to express it fully
Yes The wizz, they do. Angelina has spoken in interviews about how Shiloh, or John as she has asked to be called, has presented and dressed as a boy since she was 4 and thinks of herself as 'one of the brothers'. Jess is right - gender disphoria can present in kids as young as 3 and 4 and I think it's a beautiful example of parenting and of how accepting Brad and Angelina are about it - especially how they talk about it openly and not shy away from it as if it's a dirty little secret to be ashamed of.
I don't like to have celebrities as heroes, but this woman is quite inspirational. She lives her life her way and apologies to no one.
She also uses her huge profile to do so much good, as does her husband. They are a model for others in the industry.