Last night, Taylor Swift smashed milestones yet again when she became the first woman and first non-English artist to win the coveted Global Icon Award at the Brit Awards 2021. 

She accepted the award from “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams, who called Swift one of the “biggest names in the history of music” and “an inspiration to people all around the world.” 

Check out the highlights from her speech below! 

No fan would be surprised to learn that the “Lover” singer is also a massive fangirl. 

She started off her speech by saying, “If anyone who knows me at all knows that ‘Game of Thrones’ is my life. So, the fact that Maisie was here to present this, I want to grab you.”

She added, “I can’t, since we’re social distancing, but thank you so much for coming here to do this.”

Swift thanked the celebrities who appeared in a sizzle reel featuring highlights from her illustrious career, including “Shape of You” singer Ed Sheeran, Zoë Kravitz, Annie Lennox, and Selena Gomez. 

“Taylor Swift is the same girl I met when I was 15,” Gomez said in the video. “I wish I could be there to support you and hang out with you. You are amazing.”

“My soul left my body when Annie Lennox was on that video,” Swift gushed. “It was like 1000 surprise birthday parties and all your friends are like jumping out like, ‘Ah!’ and you’re just like, ‘This is the best.'” 

Swift also thanked her recent collaborators, including Jack Antonoff, Justin Vernon, Aaron Dessner, and boyfriend Joe Alwyn, who recently scored his first Grammy win for his lyrical contributions to songs on “folklore” and “evermore.” 

“I want to thank my friends and family who know exactly who they are, whose opinion of me never changed whether my stock was up or down,” she shared. 

“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned it’s that you have to look around you every day and take note of the people who have always believed in you and never stop appreciating them for it. Never take them for granted.” 

Swift wrapped up her speech by leaving a few well-put words of wisdom for her fans. 

“There are so many incredible new artists in this room tonight, and a lot of people watching who have goals and ambitions and dreams for themselves. I need you to hear me when I say that there is no career path that comes free of negativity. If you’re being met with resistance, that probably means that you’re doing something new.”

“If you’re experiencing turbulence or pressure, that probably means you’re rising. And there might be times when you put your whole heart and soul into something, and if it is met with cynicism or skepticism, you cannot let that crush you, you have to let it fuel you.”

“We live in a world where anyone has the right to say anything that they want about you at any time, but just please remember that you have the right to prove them wrong.”

She concluded her speech by saying, “I love you all. Thank you so much for this beautiful honor. Thank you to the Brits.” 

Keep scrolling to see all the photos Swift took for the event to capture her new look, and what that might mean for her next remastered album!