How Mishael Morgan Made History At The 2022 Daytime Emmys

The 49th Daytime Emmy Awards were a big night for talk shows, entertainment series, and most of all, soap operas. Also, for the first time in two years, the ceremony was able to be held in person after events went virtual following the COVID-19 pandemic (via U.S. News). While many stars stunned on the Daytime Emmys red carpet, it was one of the night's biggest winners who truly stole the show.

Of course, fans on Twitter also couldn't get over Susan Lucci's appearance at the Daytime Emmys and many confessed to crying while Jennifer Aniston presented an award to her dad, John Aniston. There was also Nancy Lee Grahn's literal fashion statement following the overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier in the day that made a lasting impression. While those were all great moments, it was "The Young and the Restless" star Mishael Morgan who won big at the 2022 Daytime Emmys Awards. And it wasn't just an award she got to take home, but an honor as well.

Mishael Morgan took home the coveted award for "Best Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: Actress" for her role as Amanda Sinclair, and in one swoop, made history as the first Black actress to win in this category as well, per Deadline.

Her powerful acceptance speech highlighted how massive this honor was for her, the Black community, and young women everywhere. She made it a point to explain that she didn't take the award for granted, but that the honor was more than just skin deep. "I am being honored regardless of the color of my skin, regardless of my passport, for being the best at what I do," she explained, per News4JAX.

Morgan added on that she hoped that young women would be inspired and feel seen as a result. "Now there are little girls all around the world and they're seeing another step forward and they know that no matter their industry, no matter their vocation, no matter what, they can strive to be the best at what they do," she added.

Her historic win was years in the making. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Morgan, who has starred as Hilary Curtis and Amanda Sinclair on "The Young and the Restless" for 10 years, shared why the nomination and now win was so important for her. "I want this moment for everybody who deserves it and I want everybody to see that I was, us, [were able] to break every glass ceiling, you know? So this is more steps towards that."

It's difficult to discuss her astonishing accolade without breaking down the magnitude of the moment. The original Emmy Awards commenced in January 1949 before splitting into its two separate entities — the Daytime Emmys and the Primetime Emmys. The first Daytime Emmys Awards first aired in May 1974, yet no Black actress has won the night's biggest honor until now. Per Daytime Confidential, Morgan was previously nominated as a supporting actress for her role in "The Young and the Restless" for two consecutive years.