Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent One week after backing Kamala Harris with an electrifying speech during the Democratic National Convention, Oprah Winfrey was in Venice on Thursday.
Winfrey was there to present her friend fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg’s DVF Awards, which celebrate the work of extraordinary women.
At the event, held on the sidelines of the Venice Film Festival, Oprah spoke to Variety about Harris whom, she said, has gone from “hiding in plain sight” until recently to now, as presidential candidate, “stepping into the true vision of herself.” This year’s DVF Awards honorees are Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand; Yael Admi, a co-founder and leader of Israeli movement Women Wage Peace; Reem Al-Hajajreh co-founder and director of Palestinian organization Women of the Sun; climate justice activist Xiye Bastida who is cofounder of Re-Earth Initiative; Italian reproductive rights advocate Alessandra Kustermann; and children’s rights advocate Graça Machel.
Oprah called them women who have been “Giving, giving, giving,” and noted that for many of them “it’s a lonely venture trying to empower others in a world that doesn’t wish to see you empowered.” Then she spoke about Kamala Harris and how she has been empowered.
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