Though she couldn’t attend the 39th annual Gracie Awards, Shonda Rhimes shared her sentiments on why Scandal, honored at the gala for Best Drama, is such a game-changing force.

Actress Bellamy Young, who plays First Lady Mellie Grant on the political thriller, spoke for Rhimes at the podium:

“Shonda says to tell you she hates the word nice. The women of Scandal don’t do nice. They don’t do nice, pliable, ladylike things. They save the world. They run the White House. They hold power drills. They handle. They fix. They take control. They get the job done while the damsel in distress, played so beautifully by Tony Goldwyn, waits to be rescued. They fail as often as they succeed, but they are powerful.”

Organized by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, the Gracies celebrate media by and about women. The awards are named after comedienne Gracie Allen.

Other winners this year included Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Angie Harmon (Rizzoli and Isles), and Wanda Sykes (Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious). Aisha Tyler served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

See the complete list of Gracie winners here.

[h/t Variety]