Miss Piggy Explains Why She's a Feminist Pig After Receiving Award From Gloria Steinem

This was famed Muppet's first-ever award, "Isn't it about time?"

By Sara Kitnick Jun 06, 2015 12:02 AMTags
Miss PiggyPatrickMcMullan.com via AP Images

Last night, Miss Piggy—famed actress, political activist and feminist muppet—received a Sackler Center First Award from the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum.

Aside from the honorable recognition, this moment was especially noteworthy because it was Miss Piggy's first-ever award, "Isn't it about time?" Miss Piggy wrote in an essay for TIME before her acceptance yesterday.

She penned, "Moi is now and has always been an ardent feminist and champion of women's rights."

Miss Piggy continued, "The prestigious Sackler Center First Award is presented to women who have broken barriers and charted changes in all disciplines and areas. Past honorees include Associate Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (ret.), Toni Morrison, Jessye Norman, Susan Stroman and Julie Taymor, to name just a few. I am thrilled to be in such esteemed company. And needless to say, they are thrilled to have moi!"

Miss Piggy was presented the award from fellow feminist Gloria Steinem who had nothing but warm sentiments.

"She definitely is her own self," Steinem said.  "She isn't trying to be either totally masculine or totally feminine, she's human."

Upon accepting her award, Missy Piggy told the audience, "It is truly a major highlight, in the highlight reel that is my life."

But what makes Miss Piggy deserving of such acclaim?

"As a young woman born on a farm, I was told that my life would be nothing but mud, sweat and tears...and the occasional trip to the 4-H fair. Now that may have been enough for some, but not for moi. I refused to accept someone else's definition of my life and my future. I knew there was something bigger and better out there—and that I could achieve it if I never, ever gave up," she explained.

"Thanks to grit, fortitude, perseverance, the inspiration of other great feminists and the aforementioned karate, I did in fact achieve those dreams. Today, I live in Hollywood, where there is still a lot of mud, sweat and tears, but the hours and compensation are much more attractive."

A self-identified Porcine American, Miss Piggy continued, "How can a...ahem, pig...be a feminist? After all, the 'p' word has long been associated with the very antithesis of feminists 'male chauvinist.' This, alas, is a vestige of latent 'species-ism.'

"Sure, there are male chauvinist pigs, but there are also male chauvinist humans and, on very rare occasions and at their own peril, male chauvinist amphibians. Let us not besmirch an entire species because of the sins of a few."

Miss Piggy was accompanied by longtime lover and friend Kermit who showed his support by tweeting a photo of Piggy up on stage.