Following the recent Golden Globes Ceremony, it came as no surprise that women were the focus of this weekend’s SAG Award. From the female emcee, to attendees, to winners, yesterday’s show was a display of female empowerment, solidarity and of course, talent. 

2018 marked the first year that the SAG Awards had a host – but not just any host. Kristen Bell was the first female host to lead the show, and she opened her presentation by saying that that made her the “First Lady.”

She kept the laughs coming throughout the evening, but her opening monologue made it clear that the SAG awards was part of a bigger, more important movement, as she acknowledged the women’s marches happening throughout the US and the rest of the world.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris seconded this motion by saying, “We are in the midst of a massive cultural shift. With brave voices saying me too and advocates who know time is up…make no mistake, this is not a moment in time, this is movement.”

The focus on female empowerment continued throughout the evening as Bell was joined by an all-female cast of presenters, including Marisa Tomei, Lupita Nyong’o, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman.

And among her jokes and quips, Bell said, “Let’s make sure we are leading the charge with empathy and diligence because fear and anger never win the race.”

And who better to exemplify this message than Nicole Kidman, who won for best actress for her tole in the HBO hit series, Big Little Lies?  In her acceptance speech, Kidman said, “I just beg that the industry stays behind us because our stories are finally being told and it’s only the beginning.”