Exploring pressures, obstacles, and expression at Girl Talk Empowerment Day

Written by Kelly Fanson

“Girls” still equals pink. That was my first impression of the well-organized and equally inspired Girl Talk Empowerment Day at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last Tuesday. Their 5th annual, the event ran from from morning to mid-day with more than 1000 girls ages 11-18 in attendance.

Back to the pink.

I asked myself, if it was an event for boys would they all be wearing blue? I answered, Well, this event isn’t about them, so please swiftly abandon further questioning. The relevant point is that when united in the pink and in support of each other; we are proud, we are free, we are empowered.

Girl Talk Empowerment Day was created for girls to come together and talk about their day to day struggles as well as being an audience to host Chloe Wilde, and featured musical performances by Alx Veliz and celebrity guest; Rebecca Black, as well as motivational talks by Shameless Maya, Meredith Shaw, Taylor Lyndsay-Noel and Sherika Powell, and panelists such as rocket scientist/space explorer, Natalie Panek; Olympian, Elizabeth Manley; Toronto Star Editor-in-Chief, Adrianne Batra; and Lifestyle host/blogger, Nneka Elliot.

I wondered where the elders were. Perhaps a surprise visit from someone over 50 to represent the passage of time, the frailty of life, and the offering of her own wisdoms and perspectives, but this was a very youth-centered event.

Based on that query, you should know, I’m a 46 year old writer, producer, performer, and mom to two young men. When I was a teenager I don’t recall there being events like this. I do remember the stress and awkwardness of being a tween and a teen, quite vividly.

My memories are mixed with close, supportive friendships, nasty gossip, and once upon a time friends who, sometimes overnight, turned into unexpected foes. Those years and the tears inflicted on one another due to our own insecurities would play a part in defining our future selves.

And that was before social media.

I asked various groups of girls what it felt like to be at an event that was just for them. Every response was enthusiastic, sometimes giggly, and in some cases, an intriguing air of getting away with something.

Other more specific responses included, “without boys it’s easier to be ourselves and not be judged.” I asked, “do boys judge you?” and in unison they answered, “YES!”

I asked if they judged boys and was met with a resounding, “No!” I knew they didn’t believe themselves any more than I did.

Girl Talk is about negotiating today’s pressures, overcoming obstacles, expressing yourself and becoming a globally-minded citizen. Shameless Maya, an internet sensation with 923,918 followers on Youtube and with 67,117,434 views, took the stage with a motivational talk about being true to yourself. She had lists of tips projected onto the stage with tools for living the life you want. She showed photos of her business, her family, and her super cute office in LA. She’s a local girl from Brampton here to tell these 1000+ girls it can happen for them. Often, young people are told to just to believe in themselves but Maya’s message emphasized standing for who you are and doing the work. Web celebs are the new role models for kids and these girls were hanging on Maya’s every word.

The final celebrity to hit the stage was Rebecca Black. If you were conscious in 2011 you would remember her hit song, “Friday”. After the backlash she experienced through social media about the song, the video, and herself personally, she left the scene for a while. At 19, she’s returned a bit older and definitely wiser, having overcome the trauma of going viral at 14.

Rebecca brought her heart to the Girl Talk stage and wasn’t afraid to show her emotions. She was moved by how welcomed she was by “her peers” and said, “it was a feeling I’d never really had before”. The day was profoundly impactful for her. The audience was full of star-struck fans and they were showing it. She acknowledged that to know how to be yourself is sometimes admitting that you actually don’t know how, saying, “Everybody thinks they’re the only person who hasn’t figured it out, but really we’re all in the same boat. Nothing is the end of the world and you don’t have to put so much pressure on yourself to be perfect.” She shared something she’s just beginning to understand, explaining, “it’s so easy to get to a place where you’re so scared of taking risks. Well you have to throw yourself at that wall, at that ceiling, in order to break through it. Sometimes you’re going to fall flat on your face and it’s just not going to work but that is just life.”

Without question, girls today want to be free from how they are represented in the media and now more than ever, they’re inundated. But times are changing and it’s events like these that keep the conversation going so these young girls can become their best selves in the future. And, we’re all going to need that, so power to the pink!

About the writer: Kelly Fanson is a Toronto-based writer, producer, actor, director and mom. Currently in development with her own TV show, Kelly also writes, produces, directs and stars in her own YouTube show, Best Before.