American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) and Dove®, the global beauty brand, announce that Lisa Ling, special correspondent for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and a contributor for National Geographic Channel and Oxygen Network, is the recipient of the 2008 Dove Real Beauty Award. The award will be presented at the 33rd Annual AWRT Gracie Awards Gala on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at New York's Marriott Marquis.
AWRT has partnered with the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty since its inception in 2004. The campaign is a global effort created by the beauty brand to serve as a starting point for societal change and act as a catalyst for widening the definition and discussion of beauty. The campaign supports the Dove mission to make more women feel beautiful every day by widening stereotypical views of beauty.
Together, AWRT and Dove created the Dove Real Beauty Award to honor an individual who best embodies and expresses the "substance and spirit" of real beauty through her life and career - an appropriate description for Lisa Ling. Whether hosting a series that explores the challenges that girls face worldwide or exploring the phenomenon of female suicide bombers, as AWRT members will attest, Lisa personifies all things real and serves as a true inspiration for women and girls everywhere.
"I'm so excited and honored to receive the Dove Real Beauty Award," said Ling. "I deeply admire the Dove brand's commitment to empowering real women."
Lisa Ling has traveled across the globe to cover vitally important stories for "Oprah," and hosts "Who Cares About Girls?" on the Oxygen Network. She previously served as co-host of ABC's Emmy-winning talk show, "The View." Ms. Ling was the first female host of National Geographic's award-winning series "Explorer," where she has investigated the drug war in Colombia, examined complex issues surrounding China's one-child policy and explored the hidden and dangerous culture inside American prisons and street gang MS-13. She is also a contributing editor for USA Weekend and recently co-authored a book entitled "Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood." Ms. Ling began her career at age 16 hosting "Scratch," a nationally syndicated teen magazine show.
"Lisa Ling has worked to empower and educate both women and girls by starting a global discussion about the issues and challenges they face today," said Kathy O'Brien, marketing director for Dove. "Lisa embodies the brand's commitment to real beauty and we are thrilled to present this award to such an incredible role model and advocate for all women."
"We are proud to honor Lisa Ling with the 2008 Dove Real Beauty Award. She typifies both internal and external beauty and serves as a testament to what women can accomplish in any field of endeavor," stated AWRT President Maria E. Brennan, CAE.
For more information abut the 2008 Gracies, please visit www.awrt.org. For more information about the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, please visit www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.
