Watch Kim Kardashian Present Mario Dedivanovic Award as He Gives Powerful Speech on Coming Out

Kim Kardashian came out to support one of her best friends and longtime makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, this week. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star presented the award for Artist Achievement to Dedivanovic, also known by fans as "Makeup by Mario," at the 2019 American Influencer Awards.

The KKW Beauty founder and the makeup artist have worked together for over a decade and have collaborated on many projects. In the videos below, Kardashian first warmly presents the award to her friend, and then Dedivanovic uses the platform to speak on his sexuality to the crowd in a very moving speech.

Mario Dedivanovic Speech

The 37-year-old artist revealed that there was something he wanted to share with his Albanian “flesh and blood.” He explained that he bought a piece of land in his family’s home country of Albania where his father was born, but that he has felt ashamed to visit it, because he wanted to respect himself the way he respects others before going back. He continued:

"I’m asking you all to open your eyes, to open your hearts and your souls, because so many of our little boys and girls around the world are growing up in pain and fear like I did. Thinking of killing themselves every single day like I did because they are different… We are not different. We all bleed the same and we are all equally deserving of the right to feel happiness and to feel loved. Right now, I stand here for the first time in my life a proud, 37-year-old, gay man.”

After the speech, the crowd erupted in applause, and Kardashian went to Dedivanovic’s side to rub his back.

Congratulations to Dedivanovic on his award and his immense bravery!