The Gracie Awards, Visibility, and the Power of Showing Up Imperfect

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind and I have been doing everything to keep up. Last Tuesday night, I stood in a room full of brilliant, accomplished women at the 50th Annual Gracie Awards, which honors women in media and journalism.And honestly? I almost didn’t want to go.

The sparkly dress I ordered weeks ago never arrived—likely caught in shipping or tariff limbo. So I wore what I had. And I didn’t feel “ready.” Not for the room. Not for the moment. Not for the recognition.

But then came Sara Sidner.

Sara is an award-winning CNN anchor I once worked with in San Francisco—nearly 20 years ago. That night, she shared something I’ll never forget.

She told the crowd she’d stopped at a drugstore before the ceremony. Not for lipstick or mascara.

But for a tissue.

Not to wipe away tears—but to help balance her chest. Because recently, Sara had undergone a mastectomy.

Then she said something that silenced the room:

I’m not here to talk about cancer. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t matter what you look like. We spend so much time worrying about being perfect — but what matters is we’re in the room.”

That landed hard.

Because I almost let a dress—and years of feeling invisible—talk me out of even being there.

That hit me deeply.

Because I almost let a dress—and years of feeling invisible—convince me not to show up.

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How My Award-Winning Story Almost Didn’t Happen

My piece—Daughters Beyond Incarceration—was something I nearly kept to myself. I submitted it just days before the deadline, after telling my boss, Tony Coles, how strongly I believed in it. That it wasn’t just another segment—it was a story of transformation.

And I was right!

Out of a record number of entries, it rose to the top and won a Gracie Award for Feature News Story.

Then something unexpected happened:

My company, iHeartMedia and The Black Information Network, publicly celebrated me.

They placed an ad with my name and the name of the piece. They acknowledged my work. And I didn’t quite know how to receive it.

Because for much of my career, I’ve worked behind the scenes. Quietly. Intentionally.

Telling other people’s stories. Lifting others up. Watching others get the spotlight.

I never got angry about it. I just told myself:

Maybe it’s not my time. Maybe I’m not enough.

So when appreciation finally did arrive, I froze. I wanted to shrink. To deflect. To downplay.

But I’ve come to realize: that’s a pattern I’m working to unlearn.

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For Every Woman Who’s Ever Felt Invisible

If you’ve ever done the quiet work behind the scenes…

If you’ve ever been passed over or felt undervalued…

Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me sooner:

You are enough. You are worthy. Your work matters.

And when someone honors you—take a breath. Stand tall. And receive it.

Closing Thought

Don’t count yourself out.

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.”

You don’t need permission to take up space.

Just show up.

Because being in the room—being in your truth—is where the real story begins.

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With gratitude and grit,

Esther Dillard

The Color Between the Lines Newsbrief