LOS ANGELES – October 12, 2015 — (UPI) — Salma Hayek was recently honored during Variety’s annual Power of Women event where she discussed gender equality in Hollywood and advice she has give her 8-year-old daughter Valentina.
The 49-year-old actress was celebrated Friday for her philanthropic contributions alongside Anna Kendrick, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hayek took the opportunity to discuss how the Hollywood landscape was changing for women and how better representation was on the way.
“We’re not the women who just want to see a movie of how our prince is going to come and rescue everyone,” the Mexican-born actress said. “We changed, but nobody took the time to change with us in the industry. So it’s a really exciting time to really define who we are, and I think this is the true heart of equality: not only when we can make as much and we can speak as loud, but when we really have the freedom to be ourselves instead of trying to survive or fit in.”
Hayek echoed similar sentiments later on in the evening when she issued some advice for young girls including her daughter Valentina.
“I think the most important thing to tell for the new generations is to have the courage to be unique, to be curious about who they are, instead of trying to blend in,” Hayek told reporters.
“The most important thing to say to the girls is to not try to be like the other girls,” she continued. “Not to try to fit in, but to try to really be profound thinkers that are excited about their differences and explore what they are and who they are and what can come out of the new.”
Over the summer, Hayek last made headlines when she criticized presidential hopeful Donald Trump for his disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants.
