Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, made an appearance at the Glamour Women of the Year 2025 Awards, displaying artwork from children in Gaza on her dress.
Each year, the event honors the most extraordinary and inspirational women from a wide variety of fields.
Accurso is a former preschool teacher who began creating educational videos for children via YouTube and TikTok. Her claim to fame was the infamous “Songs for Littles” series, now a media empire with 13 billion YouTube views and over 17 million subscribers.
Appearing on the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder gown, the front was black and the back white. Artwork created by the children was embroidered all around the top, complimenting the smile of a persistent educator. She was styled by Risa Kostis and wore earrings by the House of Witty.
Raising awareness for a cause is nothing new to her. Recently, few have been more outspoken about children suffering the brutality that exists in Gaza than Accurso. She openly supports charities like Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and Save the Children, openly stating that she is willing to fight for this cause even if it means losing her career.
“I wouldn’t be Ms Rachel if I didn’t deeply care about all kids. And I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. It’s all about the kids for me,” Accurso said to WBUR.
To amplify the voices of these little ones, she incorporates them into episodes of learning. One of the more prominent features was when she brought on three-year-old Rahaf — a double amputee who lost both legs to an airstrike. With over 1.1 million likes, words of love and admiration flooded her comment section.
Accurso has made it clear that she has no intention of withdrawing her support. Her ultimate hero is Mister Rodgers, known for the children’s series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” that aired from 1968 to 2001. Receiving a gift of his autograph in May, she reflected on why he is such a role model to her.
The star of the infamous television series took a stand against racial inequity on May 9, 1969, when he invited an African American character to dip his feet in a pool with him. Though the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted, pools continued to be segregated. A clear statement was made from that very scene: equal rights for all.
A statement delivered by Accurso rings in sentiment to the ideas that Rogers had as she continues to be a voice for humanity.
“My love and care for children doesn’t stop at my own children,” she said to Glamour. “It doesn’t stop at the children in our country. It embraces every child of the world. And I don’t think that our love should end at religion or skin color or where people are born. I think that that’s not what’s right, in my soul…. Children should have human rights, and children do have human rights. To me, that grown-ups are failing children and not following those guidelines, it’s so upsetting.”
