Emotional KaladKaren, The Groundbreaker at the Cosmo Women of Influence 2024

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Award-winning actress KaladKaren expresses gratitude for the opportunity to represent transwomen and the LGBTQIA+ community at #CosmoWomenofInfluence2024. #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH #womenoftiktok   Video: Nikko Tuazon  Subscribe to our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@pep_tv  Know the latest in showbiz at http://www.pep.ph  Follow us!  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepalerts/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PEPalerts  Twitter: https://twitter.com/pepalerts  Visit our DailyMotion channel! https://www.dailymotion.com/PEPalerts  Join us on Viber: https://bit.ly/PEPonViber  Watch us on Kumu: pep.ph

Transcript

00:00 I couldn't prepare my speech because I was busy looking for my outfit for tonight.

00:05 Because they said it's an iridescent, sparkling dress.

00:11 So I looked for it and I said, "What am I going to wear?"

00:16 I found this dress and I think I'm on the same team, right?

00:20 From a scale of 1 to 10, I think I got plenty.

00:24 And I promise you, I'm not a production designer.

00:30 For tonight's event.

00:32 Because I don't want to go through these boxes because I might not be able to see myself.

00:38 But to be honest with you and seriously, I am very honored to be here tonight.

00:45 I'm very honored to be here as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

00:54 I'm honored to be here as one of your honorees and most especially, I'm honored to be here to be a woman.

01:02 You know, it's very difficult to be a transgender woman in this society.

01:12 Every day, we face so many challenges and tribulations.

01:19 In fact, when I posted that I'm one of the Women of It once in 2024,

01:24 there were people who said, "Why is she a trans? She's not a woman."

01:32 I think she's taking up space not meant for her, but meant for other women.

01:38 But I don't care because Cosmopolitan Philippines thinks otherwise.

01:48 When I was a little boy, let me share this with all of you.

01:52 When I was a little boy, I have so many heroes and inspirations that are women.

01:59 My mother, of course, Britney Spears, Spice Girls.

02:04 Those were my idols when I was young.

02:08 And news anchors in the country like Mel Chaco, Corina Sanchez, and Karen Davila.

02:16 And I was thinking, "I want to be like them."

02:19 I thought to myself, "I want to be a woman in the future."

02:25 And I knew from the start, deep in my heart, that I am a woman.

02:29 But I said, "It's impossible because I haven't seen any transgender woman

02:36 on the mainstream media when I was growing up."

02:39 That's why when I won my award as the first transgender best supporting actress

02:46 and became the first transgender news anchor in the Philippines,

02:51 I said, "I think the Lord has paved the way to have me this kind of responsibility

02:59 to represent the LGBTQIA+ community and the transgender community

03:06 so that the trans kids, the trans youth, have someone to look up to."

03:13 And that is really very important because you are giving them hope.

03:18 You are giving them inspiration to become who they want to be.

03:23 And it is not impossible because I am the living testament to that.

03:28 I am standing here right in front of all of you as myself,

03:33 as my true self, and I am so proud of that.

03:37 And nothing can take that away from me, no matter what other people say.

03:43 I am me.

03:44 I am Callan Keridan, and I am proud to be myself.

03:48 Again, I am so thankful to Cosmopolitan Philippines.

03:53 Thank you very much for including me.

03:55 I am grateful because this is exactly how it feels like to be included.

04:01 Thank you very much.

04:02 (applause)

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