The Sackler Center at the Brooklyn Museum of Art honored Miss Piggy with its Sackler Center First Award this week, joining the ranks of honorees like Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner and award-winning author Toni Morrison.
The First Award honors women who have been first in their field. In addition to the aforementioned previous honorees, former receipients?have included Jessye Norman, opera singer and woman of color; Tony Award-winning director, choreographer, and performer Susan Stroman; and director of theatre, opera, and film Julie Taymor. Founder Elizabeth Sackler says that Miss Piggy was honored because she
“Overcomes obstacles; she’s certainly first of her kind; she’s got grit; she’s tenacious; but she also has that soft spot?that love for Kermit,” and that the fabulous Miss Piggy “has all of the qualities that…women need to have to face the world as it is, and she gives us a good smile on top of it all.”
Miss Piggy accepted the honor with a speech typical of her humble and demure self. She declared?that,
“Moi is now and has always been an ardent feminist and champion of women’s rights.?I believe that any woman who refuses to accept society’s preconceived notions of who or what they can be is a feminist. I believe any woman who is willing to struggle, strive ? and if necessary learn karate ? to make their mark in the world is a feminist.”
Gloria Steinem, who presented the award, sat in the audience next to Miss Piggy’s long-time husband and biggest fan, Kermit the Frog, who has?previously been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while his devoted wife stood by his side while receiving no accolades of her own. Steinem asked Kermit if he, too, considers himself a feminist, to which he’declared that he does, and that,
“No one has broken through more glass ceilings than Miss Piggy, and no one has swept up more broken glass than me. The Muppets wouldn’t be so successful without her.”
Closing out her amazing acceptance speech, Miss Piggy opined on the future of the feminist movement, which has certainly advanced since Miss Piggy’s meager, porcine farm beginnings in 1974.
“Yet one last question remains: What is the future of feminism? The answer is obvious ? feminism’s future must be proud, positive, powerful, perseverant, and, wherever possible, alliterative. It must believe in itself, share its triumphs, overcome its setbacks and inspire future generations.
I(t) must, in other words, be a lot like ? moi.”
So true, Miss Piggy, and so eloquent. Congratulations on winning this prestigious honor!
