Innovative coverage of women's rights and equality continues to be incredibly resonant for the passionate and socially engaged NowThis audience. NowThis has always been at the forefront of identifying the next generation of leaders and doers, and when we lend our megaphone or shine our spotlight on someone, we give the world access to the future faces of change.

Vital Voices and its mission, to invest in women leaders solving the world’s greatest challenges, has never been more important — especially as we are watching the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan evaporate. NowThis NEXT sought to amplify the work of these women and pass the proverbial torch to the next generation of changemakers. Our goal was to connect our audience ?with inspiring new women leaders and also build on our partnership with OWN to bring this program to an even wider audience.

NowThis partnered with Vital Voices on the second-annual NowThis NEXT to celebrate the next generation of changemakers who tackled the challenges of the past year with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and a drive to make a change for the better.

NowThis NEXT Presents: Yes We Did! The Vital Voices of 2021 shone a spotlight on the critical role women leaders play in creating a more equitable and just world for us all and touched on the most pressing issues women are facing right now, including mental health, racial justice, climate justice, women and girls’ rights around the world with a special focus on Afghanistan. Packed with impactful messages, awards, conversations, performances, and empowering segments about leadership and change, we created a digital movement, breaking down barriers, inspiring activism, and driving donations.

NowThis’ informative, factual coverage focuses on making sure young audiences see themselves reflected in the content, allowing us to build huge trust and brand equity among Millennial and Gen Z consumers. In order to meet this young audience — specifically our highly engaged 18-34-year-old female audience — where they are, NowThis NEXT was streamed live across NowThis’ YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram channels.

We also wanted to weave in presenting sponsor P&G's portfolio, with each brand (Barbie, Sephora, Moderna, etc.) getting its own creative treatment bespoke to its singular connection with the NowThis audience. Each P&G segment beautifully honored the message of the event in its own way, offering unique inroads to some of NowThis NEXT’s biggest themes: mental health, racial justice, and climate justice, among others.

NowThis NEXT Presents: Yes We Did! The Vital Voices of 2021 premiered on OWN and simultaneously on nowthisnext.com, and live on NowThis’ Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok channels, with P&G serving as the presenting sponsor. Additional partners included Barbie in support of their Dream Gap Project initiative, Sephora and their short film on Black Beauty, and Moderna in honor of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team.

The show, hosted by NowThis Producer and Correspondent Luria Freeman featured legacy changemakers, celebrities, and thought leaders including Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, actress, and activist Eva Longoria, actress Kristen Bell, Vital Voices Global Partnership President and CEO Alyse Nelson, actress Nicole Maines, singer, dancer, and actress JoJo Siwa, actress Garcelle Beauvais, and more as they amplified the voices of inspiring women in the Vital Voices global network who are solving the world’s greatest challenges.

Following the live event, assets, conversations, keynotes, and performances were edited, optimized, and rolled out across NowThis’ social channels. We uplifted, inspired, and championed viewers across OWN, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram Live, Twitter, and TikTok Live. The successful event racked up over 8 million views and received widespread coverage, including in Deadline, for the innovative and celebrity-studded approach to NowThis’ premier event franchise. Additional stats include:

• 32K+ social engagements

• 10.2M+ people reached

• 47M+ social impressions