VH1 Trailblazers To Honor Nancy Pelosi, Margaret Atwood, #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke, and Ava DuVernay

Women’s Month 2019 is starting off strong with some of the most influential women being honored with the VH1 Trailblazer Award. The author behind The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood and #MeToo founder and activist Tarana Burke will join previously announced Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay on the list of incredible women whom “VH1 Trailblazer Honors” will celebrate to kick off Women’s History Month. 

Rita Ora is also set to perform her personal anthem “Soul Survivor”. The one-hour special will air on International Women’s Day, Friday, March 8th at 9PM ET/PT, on VH1 and Logo.

“VH1 Trailblazer Honors” will celebrate today’s most respected politicians, entertainers, artists, activists, allies and icons who have dedicated their time and steadfast commitments to the women’s movement and beyond. Centered around this year’s incredible breakthroughs in female empowerment and human rights, the annual event will feature the landmark achievements of its honorees. Additional talent to be announced.

“VH1 Trailblazer Honors” will take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, a National Historic Landmark and extension of the Ebell of Los Angeles, a 125-year-old organization founded by women for women.

Previous Trailblazer Honorees include:

· Ryan Murphy, groundbreaking screenwriter, director and producer

· James Baldwin, author and activist

· Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, social activists and parents of Trayvon Martin

· The ACLU Organization

· Cyndi Lauper, prolific performer and equality activist

· Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, creators of Emmy award-winning “Will & Grace”

· Edie Windsor and Roberta Kaplan, DOMA challengers

· Jason Collins, first out professional male athlete in a major U.S. sport

· “Orange is the New Black,” Emmy-award winning Netflix series

Official sponsors of the 2019 VH1 Trailblazer Honors include Boost Mobile and Ice Breakers.

For more updates, please visit Trailblazers.VH1.com. Follow @VH1 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and use #TrailblazerHonors to join the conversation.

“VH1 Trailblazer Honors” is executive produced by Amy Doyle, Vanessa WhiteWolf and Andria Parides. Wendy Plaut and Marcia Lansdown are the Executives in Charge of Celebrity Talent. Lisa Lauricella and Wanda Coriano are the Executives in Charge of Music Talent. Fonda Anita serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Lauren Quinn is directing.