If you watched this week's Emmys being handed out in Los Angeles, you could be forgiven for thinking that either Succession or The White Lotus were the big winners of the night. After all, since the former had 12 nominations and the latter took home five awards, it was pretty much only those two titles that dominated discussion on the night. But if that's where your mind went, you're likely forgetting about the success that was Lizzo.
Usually known only for her music, this year has been a big one for Lizzo, whose Prime Video series Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls made its debut back in March. If you're not across it, the premise sees 13 women going head to head in competition to be dancers for Lizzo.
So far, the show had been a major hit, going on to win Best Streaming Reality Show or Competition Series at the Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards, and also win two of the five Creative Arts Emmys it was nominated for. However, it was this week that the program truly had its brilliance recognised.
Nominated for the most Outstanding Competition Program at the Primetime Emmy Awards, the program was up against some big names, including RuPaul's Drag Race and The Voice, with many likely assuming that these established series might bring home the award. But in a a massive win for not only Lizzo, but acceptance of women of colour and plus-sized women, Watch Out For The Big Grrrls found itself on the receiving end of its first Emmy.
In her acceptance speech, Lizzo recognised the power of what an award like this means and made a call for more stories like those featured in the show to be allowed to be told. "The trophy is nice, but my emotion is for these people who are on the stage with me," Lizzo said through tears. "The stories that they shared, they’re not that unique. They just don’t get the platform. Telling stories; let’s just tell more stories."
As she continued, she noted the lack of representation she would see in TV and movies while growing up, and recognised the major step forward that an award such as this means for representation in the entertainment industry going forward.
"When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media," Lizzo added. "Someone fat like me. Black like me. Beautiful like me. If I could go back and tell little Lizzo something, I would be like, 'You’re going to see that person, but bitch, it’s going to have to be you.'"
Lizzo's award has now seen her half way toward winning the fabled EGOT, with her nascent Emmy now sitting alongside three previous Grammys on the shelf. Now all she needs is an Oscar and a Tony, and if this award proves anything, it's that there is truly no stopping Lizzo.
