Angelina Jolie turns heads with daughter Zahara and poet Amanda Gorman at Variety’s Power Of Women

She’s a renowned actress, filmmaker and activist.

And Angelina Jolie was proud to have daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt and poet Amanda Gorman at her side during Variety’s Power Of Women gala at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The Maleficent star, 46, was radiant in coffee-colored pleated silk with a high collar as she wrapped her arms around her eldest daughter, 16, and Gorman, 23, one of the evening’s honorees.

The American poet joined Katy Perry, Lorde, Channing Dungey, and Rita Moreno as they were recognized at the event for their philanthropic work.

Embracing classic elegance, she styled her brunette tresses in bouncy waves and played up her pout with a cherry red lip.

Besides her Zahara wowed in a wide-legged white pants worn with a flowy blouse and leather belt in matching ivory.

Amanda glowed in a hot pink Versace gown which swept down to the floor. Continuing the glamour, she rocked purple lipstick, dangling earrings along with jeweled pins in her hair.

During the actual event, Angelina took to the stage to present Gorman with Variety’s Power of Women honor.

She praised the national youth poet laureate for captivating the country at the inauguration of President Joe Biden as she said: ‘The young woman of grace, who stepped fearlessly to the podium on inauguration day. Not just the youngest but the strongest voice we could ask for in that moment.

‘The Amanda we see today might seem as if she leapt into our times, fully formed, to summon our better angels. But there was an Amanda we didn’t see.’

Jolie quoted some of Gorman’s own words as she continued: ‘A little girl with a speech impediment. In her own words, “a buck-toothed, kinky-haired, speech-garbled 7-year-old.”

‘Scribbling in her journal, on the school bus and park bench. wrestling with language, puzzling out meaning and rhyme, inventing her own dictionary. All those hours of thought and creation forged the unfaltering woman you see today.’

She went on to praise the poet for her talent to hone her words in order to express them to the masses to ‘bring people to the streets.’

Jolie said: ‘So as well as celebrating your extraordinary achievements, Amanda, we honor 7-year-old you, and every other girl who feels she is an outsider, alone, when she is simply coming into her own.

‘So many girls have their progress in life derailed — by poverty, by the disapproving word, the clenched fist, or the steel of the gun. How many Amanda’s are living in Afghanistan, hiding their journals, waiting to see if they will be allowed to go to school? As if anyone has the right to decide what a woman can or cannot do with her own mind and body.’

The A-list star concluded with a message about free speech as she said: ‘Those who have the power of free speech – the weapon of free speech – must combine to defend those who do not. We need voices like Amanda’s, those lights in the dark. May you burn fiercely, and light the way for others.’

Also being honored at the event was Katy Perry, who looked breathtaking in a dramatic lilac ensemble from eccentric Italian fashion house Schiaparelli.

Billowing sleeves enveloped her body while hanging off her arms to reveal her toned shoulders and delicate collarbone.

The mother-of-one amped up the glamour with sparkling drop earrings and matching rings. Continuing the bold theme, she backcombed her blonde tresses while playing up her peepers with a flick of dark eyeliner.

At her side was fiancé Orlando Bloom, who looked dapper in a crisp suit worn over a white shirt unbuttoned and untied.

Inside the event Perry posed with fellow honoree Lorde, who enchanted in a flowy mushroom-print number from Rodarte.

Gayle King dazzled in a colorful pink, green and patterned Missoni dress with a glittering envelope clutch

Warner Bros. CEO Channing Dungey and legendary actress Rita Moreno were also there to be honored.

The business woman looked sharp in a blue plaid frock with sequins catching the light at her every turn.

Meanwhile, all eyes were on West Side Story beauty Moreno as she stepped out in a wild pleated skirt with black and yellow stripes on one side and soft cream on the other.

Continuing the color theme, she tossed a bumblebee yellow jacket over a formfitting turtleneck and bold, ornamental belt.

Jenna Dewan graced the carpet in a ruffle-heavy floral look from Brock Collection. The So You Think You Can Dance? talent teased her cleavage in a corset-like bodice with two flirty straps falling off her shoulders.

Keeping it elegant, she styled her chestnut brown locks back into a chignon with two tendrils of caramel highlights framing her face.

Alyssa Milano showed off her chic style in a long-sleeved red and black frock with tall boots while sweeping her curly, caramel blonde locks to one side.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills favorite Garcelle Beauvais was the image of luxury in a velvet Dries Van Noten jacket in a rich, red rose pattern.

Layering lush textures, the actress/reality star rocked leather pants below. Round velvet pumps tied everything together, along with Garcelle’s world-class smile.

Tia Mowry went for bad girl vibes wearing a plunging leather top and matching pants with dark, smoky eyes, a long braid and giant hoop earrings.

According to Variety, the Power Of Women event gathers an intimate group of philanthropic women who have been selected as the publications honorees, as well as the most powerful women working in media and entertainment.

Presenters in attendance include Gayle King, Hunter Schafer, Jolie, Gloria Calderón Kellett and Ava DuVernay, along with additional attendees Garcelle Beauvais, Jenna Dewan, Kelly Hu, Sylvia Kwan, Loni Love, Justina Machado, Marlee Matlin, Alyssa Milano, Tia Mowry, Kim Raver, Elisabeth Rohm, Jill Scott, Paxton Smith and Patricia Velasquez.

The gathering happened with strict Covid safety protocol in place. Every guest had to provide a negative RT-PCR Covid Test within 72 hours of the event as well as proof of full vaccination.