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Odom Jr., who won a Tony Award in June for his role in the
smash Broadway hit "Hamilton," and Brown, a choreographer and
dance educator, received the 2016 Princess Grace Statue Award,
named after the late American actress Grace Kelly.
Singer and actress Queen Latifah received the Prince Rainier III
Award, named after the awards founder and late husband of
Princess Grace, for her contribution to the arts.
The three African-American artists were honored at a gala
ceremony on Broadway hosted by British supermodel Naomi Campbell
and attended by Monaco's Prince Albert II and his wife Princess
Charlene.
Speaking to reporters, Odom Jr. recalled the significance of
standing alongside three other African-American artists who also
won in the musical category at the Tony Awards a few months ago.
"So, if some little kid sees that image of us holding our Tony
awards or holding our Princess Grace award, it gives them the
willingness to dream for themselves, then that is a beautiful
thing," he said.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Odom Jr. said he had
received a $25,000 grant from the Princess Grace Foundation in
2002 which allowed him pay his college tuition bills. The
program for aiding emerging artists "was a huge help to my
family and it changed my life," he said.
The foundation said on its website it has awarded over $11
million to more than 800 recipients since it started in 1982,
after the death of Grace Kelly.
The American actress became a princess after marrying Prince
Rainier III of Monaco in 1956.
(Reporting by Reuters Television; writing by Yiming Woo; editing
by Darren Schuettler)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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