Katherine Ryan has been internet hosting GLAMOUR’s Ladies of the 12 months Awards – the place we honour the yr’s largest record-breakers, trailblazers and activists – for the previous 4 years. These 4 occasions have seen Katherine name out every part from politicians to the patriarchy (reader, she by no means misses); serve up numerous fist-pumping moments (“Women’s reproductive rights SO obviously make sense, yet we have to fight for them over and over. It’s like finding out some prick with a YouTube channel has started a campaign against chemotherapy and seatbelts”); and even host one ceremony nearly, pulling off the near-impossible activity of cheering us up throughout lockdown (sorry, we should always’ve prefaced this with a 2021 set off warning).
Yearly, it is a blast with Katherine on the WOTY helm. Not solely is she outspoken on every part from misogyny to motherhood, she’s additionally firmly on most individuals’s checklist of ‘celebs we’d love to ask to a cocktail party.’ Which is why we’re presenting Katherine, unbeknownst to her, along with her very personal GLAMOUR Ladies of the 12 months 2024 Award – shock, Katherine! – for ‘Feminist Hero’, as a result of that is precisely what she is.
“I just absolutely love coming here, year after year, weaving violence against women into a comedy opening monologue,” Katherine joked, earlier than including: “I love being counted among these very incredible women.”
Whereas she overcomes her shock backstage, here is Katherine reflecting on what it means be a part of GLAMOUR’s Ladies of the 12 months Awards, the modifications of inclusivity in comedy, and the true that means of feminism…
Hollie Malloy
What does presenting GLAMOUR’s Ladies of the 12 months imply to you?
I innately compartmentalise, which permits me to plunge head first into unimaginable life experiences confidently with out actually understanding their significance till after the actual fact. It’s not till the top of the awards night that may mirror and let the awe sink in over what the Glamour group handle to tug collectively yr after yr. I’m at all times blown away and impressed by the varied group of excessive attaining and philanthropical ladies within the room. It’s been an honour to have introduced The Glamour Awards for the previous 4 years and I can’t wait to listen to from the ladies being celebrated this yr.
Do you have got a standout favorite second from any of the WOTY occasions?
Assembly Lena Dunham on the 2023 Glamour Awards has been considered one of my standout favorite moments. There are impactful ladies who come alongside typically within the adolescence of your life and handle to jot down on the canvas of who you might be. Lena’s uniquely touching and dramatic comedy collection, GIRLS touched me in a means that no different inventive work had and he or she continues to amaze me. At all times meet your heroes!
How is internet hosting the GLAMOUR Ladies of the 12 months empowering for you?
I’m a sucker for a matriarchy. As a younger girl, I labored at Hooters – a restaurant which is seen by many to objectify its waitresses – however I simply liked collaborating and cooperating with a decent knit group of girls on a regular basis. Was it sexist? Positive. However all I knew on the time is that there have been no boys round and I appreciated that. Internet hosting The Glamour Awards is so empowering as a result of again then, I by no means imagined a time once I might be amongst numerous ladies that I love and never should serve anybody rooster wings.
When do you’re feeling probably the most empowered?
Empowerment has by no means been a problem for me. I really feel nearly too empowered on a regular basis. Touring reveals – empowered. Writing get up – empowered. Cooking – empowered. Doing the weekly store – empowered. If something, I might afford to be taken down a notch. It’s getting out of hand.
What does feminism imply to you?
Feminism may be very plainly the political, social and economical equality of genders. I’ve seen the time period weaponised, wilfully misunderstood, or shied away from. However that’s it. There was a lot progress in the direction of equality however many ladies nonetheless give away their emotional and bodily assets at no cost simply to ‘be nice’. We’re underpaid and undervalued in some ways. I believe we’re very highly effective in our capability for goodness and empathy, however we have to cease making so many compromises.
Who could be your chosen girl of the yr and why?
My chosen girl of the yr could be Taylor Swift. Then I might meet her and get my daughter off my again.
As you navigate success and the pressures that will come along with your day-to-day life, how do you take care of your self and your psychological wellbeing?
I don’t take care of myself or my psychological well-being. I’m very strong in that means so I simply lavish my youngsters with consideration and I’m going to work and I really feel very fortunate to have so many blessings to juggle. Badly. I haven’t slept in three years as a result of my kids don’t sleep by way of the evening and bodily, I’m metamorphosing into my very own father. I’m actually joyful and possibly not on the sting of a breakdown however each three months of so, I’ll simply cry at my husband.
Talking of success, what would you say success means to you, personally?
Success to me is synonymous with freedom. That’s all cash is. Freedom. Well being can also be freedom to maneuver round and have autonomy over your individual physique. Being professionally in demand means I could make selections. When you think about your life, all that actually issues to anybody is freedom.
What has been the most important problem of your profession / journey thus far?
My largest challenges in life have been navigating miscarriages. In these moments, I really feel related to so many different ladies who keep it up with jobs and households or who’re merely alone and grieving in silence. I’m basically a fortress who feels no nervousness or stress other than once I’m coping with that sort of loss. The ache surprises me each time. I really feel trapped in a hormonal snake pit that my typical gratitude and logic can’t assist me escape from. After which, finally I simply really feel higher.
Is there a stand-out time for you that you simply have been met with sexist attitudes in your profession, and the way did you overcome it?
I’m retired from talking about being a feminine comic as a result of no matter I say, it turns into a twisted tabloid headline that makes me sound like I randomly shouted ‘I HATE MEN’ out a window. I do, however I’ve largely forgiven them for all-male lineups and the unstated rule that there might solely be one girl on panel reveals. It’s not the manufacturing firm’s fault or the channel’s fault or the advertisers’ fault that AUDIENCES are sexist. Sadly ladies could be probably the most sexist audiences of all. One thing emboldens them to method a feminine comedian after her present and say, ‘You know, I normally don’t discover ladies humorous…’. Don’t you? What a tragic little life, Jane.
You’ve been identified to place your head above the parapet and converse to injustices, sexism or abuse that you simply’ve witnessed in your business – which is fairly courageous – what drives you to do that?
I’ve impulse management points.
