By Devyn Briones
Staff Writer
“Sisterhood is about who you choose along the way,” said Glamour’s global editorial director Samantha Barry. This message perfectly reflects this year’s honorees, including Rachel Accurso, known to millions of children and parents as Ms. Rachel, who continues to use her platform to spread love, inclusion and hope.
Accurso walked Glamour’s red carpet in a dress showcasing artwork created by children in Gaza.
“I’m so proud to wear their work,” Accurso said on the carpet. “I’m carrying their stories in my heart. I’m carrying them with me and they all know about the dress and they’re excited.”
On the sleeve of her dress held images of a young girl hugging a watermelon, a light blue dove filled with colorful flowers carrying a leafy branch and a sailboat painted in red and green to represent the Palestinian flag. The boat carries a tiny yet powerful message that reads, “ride with us.” Accurso’s dress had many other creations, and she carried a printed paper of each child featured with their designs.
“My love and care for children doesn’t stop at my own children. It doesn’t stop at the children in our country,” Accurso told Glamour. “It embraces every child of the world. And I don’t think that our love should end at religion or skin color or where people are born.”
Accurso herself has two children. The 42-year-old originally began her YouTube journey six years ago as a stay-at-home mom. Her oldest, Thomas, had a speech delay, and she hoped that crafting these sing-along videos would help him.
However, her videos went viral amongst children and parents, and she was able to help not only Thomas and other children in the United States, but children from all over the world.
With over 13 billion YouTube views and 17 million subscribers, nine published books, a successful toy line and a Netflix series watched by more than 53 million viewers, Accurso’s influence spans multiple platforms.
Although Accurso is mostly for children, many adults and teenagers are big fans of the lady-in-the-headband, but for different reasons: her advocate side. Accurso has openly spoken about postpartum depression, overlooked backlash after posting a Pride Month message to her followers and is one of the loudest American voices for the children in Gaza.
“I encourage everyone to use their voice to speak out for little ones around the world in need,” Accurso said on the carpet. “When we take wonderful care of our little ones, it’s the right thing to do. It benefits all of us.”
Accurso shares her beliefs with her followers to spread awareness, hosts fundraisers, and even brought a three-year-old double amputee named Rahaf onto her show. Although some critics accuse her of politicizing childhood, many others have praised her for speaking up when many politicians don’t.
“I have to just remind myself that kids’ lives are more important than my reputation,” she said.
After sharing a couple of seconds of her Glamour speech on Instagram, she recited a quote from James Baldwin in her caption, a strong message that echoes her beliefs.
“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.”
