The 37th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards took place on Saturday at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
At this year’s annual awards ceremony, many worthy contenders competed against each other in the main categories.
Most notably, Serena Williams was recognized for her established status as a tennis icon and was honored with the Legend Award.
Singer extraordinaire Kelly Rowland introduced the four-time Olympic gold medalist with a effusive introduction.
At this year’s annual awards ceremony, Renée Rapp also took home the Breakthrough Artist award and was treated to the gift of being covered in green slime during her speech.
The 37th Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards were held on Saturday at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Serena Williams was recognized for her established status as a tennis icon and was awarded the Legend Award.
“I am beyond excited to be here tonight to present the Kids’ Choice Legend Award to the one and only, my friend, Serena Williams,” the Destiny Child member began.
‘She has defended her legendary status all her life, ever since she was a child. She started training on public tennis courts in Compton, California (and) turned pro at just 14 years old. How many 14-year-olds are there out there?
‘As a friend, I’ve watched her continue to evolve beyond the world of tennis to become the cultural icon she is today, spanning fashion, entrepreneurship and activism.
“Throughout her career, she has always strived to be the best she can be,” Rowland continued. “But it’s not just her dominance on and off the court, it’s the way she champions those around her and invites others to share in her success that makes her such an inspiration to us all.”
The 23-time Grand Slam winner then took the stage.
“I have many people to thank for this incredible honor,” he began. “First of all, thank you to Kelly for presenting me with this award.
“It’s great to receive an incredibly special award made even more special by the fact that it was presented to me by my wonderful friend. Thank you, I love you so much.”
To her fans in the audience, Williams gushed: “Oh my God, this is great. You guys are the best crowd ever. I needed you at Wimbledon.”
The 23-time Grand Slam winner then took to the stage to thank Rowland for the introduction and her fans for awarding her the flower.
Instead of being covered in slime, Williams was honored with gold confetti on stage.
Singer extraordinaire Kelly Rowland introduced the four-time Olympic gold medalist with a effusive introduction.
“I have to thank my whole family for believing in me,” she continued. “I look out at the crowd with so many little legends, but I want them to know that wherever they come from, they can do anything they put their mind to.
“If you can do it, I can do it too,” he said. “Receiving the Legend Award from all of you is a real gift and means the world to me, so thank you all so much.”
Earlier in the ceremony, Rapp won the Breakthrough Artist award.
In this category she competed against other nominees: Tyla, Victoria Monét, Coco Jones, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Tate McRae and Teddy Swims.
The singer-songwriter, who gained recognition for portraying Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls, spoke about how she used to watch the awards show as a child and thanked her fans for the honor.
“Hey, guys. Hi, how are you? Well, you’re so cute and so loud and yet so sweet,” she began.
“Thank you, very nice. It’s so much fun to be here, I used to see this all the time when I was a kid, so it’s a great joy. And you guys look so cute and so well dressed. So thank you, I love you.”
For Favorite Male Voice in an Animated Film, TikTok sensation Bella Poarch and record producer Benny Blanco presented the award to Adam Sandler for his role in Leo.
At this year’s awards ceremony, Renée Rapp took home the Breakthrough Artist award
She was granted the gift of being covered in green slime during her speech.
The singer-songwriter, who gained recognition for starring as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls, spoke about how she used to watch the awards show as a child and thanked her fans for the honor.
For Favorite Male Voice in an Animated Movie, TikTok sensation Bella Poarch and record producer Benny Blanco presented the award to Adam Sandler for his role in Leo
The actor, who has the second-most Kids’ Choice Awards wins — 11 in total — in history, followed closely by Selena Gomez with 12 career wins, won for voicing the titular lizard.
Nominees for the category included Chris Pratt for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Brady Noon and Jackie Chan for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Justin Timberlake for Trolls Band Together and Shaimeik Moore for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
The actor, who has the second-most Kids’ Choice Awards wins — 11 in total — in history, followed closely by Selena Gomez with 12 career wins, won for voicing the titular lizard.
Nominees for the category included Chris Pratt for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Brady Noon and Jackie Chan for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Justin Timberlake for Trolls Band Together and Shaimeik Moore for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Jack Black also received two nominations for The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Kung Fu Panda 4.
Although Black did not win the award for Favorite Male Voice in an Animated Category, he still received his share of the honor by being awarded Favorite Villain for his role as Bowser in the Super Mario Bros. movie.
For voicing the fan-favorite villain who kidnapped Princess Peach, he took home the award over his fellow nominees.
Nods were given to Rapp as Regina George in Mean Girls, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Keegan-Michael Key as the police chief in Wonka, Amy Schumer as Velvet in Trolls Band Together and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two.
