J.Crew President Jenna Lyons already is a successful businesswoman and fashion icon, but now she may also be an inspiration for LGBT youth across the nation.
At Glamour's "Women of the Year" awards ceremony on Monday night, Lyons was named 2012's "Fashion Original." When she stepped onstage to make her acceptance speech, she might have come out of the closet, Jezebel notes.
“Nothing worth having is easy," the J.Crew exec said, recounting how she felt "ugly" and awkward as a young girl, and started out in the biz as an assistant's assistant, according to Fashionista.
Lyons then went on to offer some special thanks to her loved ones. She thanked her son, Beckett, “for reminding me that the world revolves around him every day,” her “mentor,” J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler, and “Courtney, who has shown me new love."
Her speech touched the crowd in attendence, particularly Glamour Fashion Editor-at-Large Louise Roe, who later tweeted her praise.
NY Mag's The Cut notes how this is Lyons' first time publicly acknowledging her relationship with Courtney Crangi.
Lyons was first linked to Crangi, who works with her jewelry designer brother, Philip Crangi, last October when she split from husband Vincent Mazeau. "After the breakup, Jenna fell in love with Courtney, whom she had been friends with for some time," a source told the New York Post. "They've known each other for years through the fashion business. Courtney is an attractive blonde who balances working hard with her family."
The relationship blossomed. "After [Jenna] separated they just started spending more time together. [...] They have a lot in common and mutual respect for each other," a source told People magazine.
Whether or not Lyons' acceptance speech can be seen as a "coming out" speech is up for debate, but other icons have opened up while at the public podium before.
"White Collar" hunk Matt Bomer came out as gay when accepting an award for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS in February. "I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry," he told the crowd, referring to Simon Halls, his longtime partner. "Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."
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