“She won? Over Megan?”- Netizens divided as Nicole Scherzinger wins the best actress in a leading role category at Tony Awards 2025
Nicole Scherzinger has won the best leading actress in a musical award at the Tony Awards 2025 on Sunday, June 8. She won it for playing the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., which marked her debut on Broadway.
She beat the likes of Audra McDonald, who has already won six Tony awards, the most in history. McDonald was nominated for her performance as Rose in Gypsy and for her portrayal of Rose's Turn.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty were also nominated in the category for their respective roles in Death Becomes Her. Amy Rodgers was nominated for Boop! The Musical.
Some fans online were surprised to see Nicole Scherzinger win, as one wrote on X:
"She won? Over Megan? Over Audra? Over Jennifer??? WTFF"
"not deserved at all," another wrote.
Some users pointed out Scherzinger's support for MAGA, as one tweeted:
"Suddenly she loses the MAGA hat when she needs to benefit off of the gays again"
"Why she gotta be a Trump supporter tho," another commented.
Meanwhile, many fans were thrilled to see her win the award, as one tweeted:
"honestly when i saw this pop up the top of my phone i instantly wanted to start crying.. she definitely deserved this"
"From Pussycat Dolls to winning a Tony! Congrats to her!" another wrote.
Nicole Scherzinger was also part of The Pussycat Dolls, the famous girl group and dance ensemble, from 2003 to 2010.
Also Read: Tony Awards 2025: Full list of nominees
Nicole Scherzinger delivers emotional acceptance speech after Tony Awards win
In Sunset Blvd., Nicole Scherzinger stars as Norma Desmond, a fading film star, who is attracted to screenwriter Joe Gillis in Hollywood in the late 1940s.
This revival of the show is directed by Jamie Lloyd, who also directed it in London's West End before bringing it to Broadway.
After winning the Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical on Sunday, Scherzinger delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech. She started by saying:
"I just have to thank God for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory."
She thanked the Tony Awards "for making this little Hawaiian-Ukrainian-Filipino girl's dream come true." She then thanked her mother and her fiancé, Thom Evans, for believing in her. She added:
"Jamie Lloyd you saw in me what know one else did. You gave us all new ways to dream and you’ve changed my life together."
Scherzinger also expressed gratitude to Sunset Blvd.'s composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. She concluded with:
"Growing up, I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong and I have come home at last. So if there is anyone who feels like they don't belong or your time hasn't come, don't give up. Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and light more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins."
Nicole Scherzinger had been campaigning for the Tony Awards for quite a while, including the annual Miscast event. She sang I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles, which is an anthem in the gay community.
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