Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award winner Norma Kamali gave one of the memorable acceptance speeches of the night—and her special thank-yous, exclusive to CFDA.com, are just as memorable and demonstrate just how many people Kamali has touched, and continues to do so, in her iconic career. Here are those Kamali acknowledges for her success:

“Thank you to:

Elvis for buying multiples of the same white gowns through the years for the women in his life.

Robert De Niro for shopping for my favorite model in the 80’s, Touki Smith.

Rod Stewart for shopping for frocks and shoooess for women in his life…

John Lennon for shopping with Yoko and being soooo charming, funny, and brilliant.

Robert Plant for buying my super-big sleeved shirts in the 70’s and making women’s shirts look amazingly sexy on a man.

Alice Cooper for honoring me with burning holes in shirts I made for him.

The New York Dolls for finding my clothes, and styling themselves into the New York scene.

Raquel Welsh for inviting me to design red carpet looks for her, year after year on a body that was cultivated to perfection.

Jackie Bisset for looking amazing in Peter Gruber’s film The Deep in my white T-Shirt swimsuit and thanks to Peter and Tara for being super supporters.

Joel Schumacher and Sidney Lumet for inviting me to design costumes for the Emerald City sequence in The Wiz.

Cher for being one of the most beautiful, untraditional beauties of all time and for buying so many clothes that helped me pay the rent.

Diana Ross for rockin’ gowns I made for her with as much drama I could imagine, trying to match her dramatic performances.

Kama Persaud, who has been with me for 43 years and has sewn every significant new design, and whom I love very much.

Scavullo for launching me into the swimwear business with a swim cover of Cosmo on the newcomer Christy Brinkley thanks to Sean Byrnes.

Madonna for some of my favorite photos of any celeb in my clothing through the years, especially those I designed for Vanity Fair shot by Steven Meisel.

For Vogue and Bazaar recognizing my talent six months into my first day as a designer in business and giving me full-page editorials.

To Diana Vreeland for inviting me to create parachutes for the first Metropolitan Museum costume exhibition including designers of current time.

Richard Avedon for introducing me to Twyla Tharp, who offered me the honor to collaborate with her on nine dances to date, and especially one of my favorites in the Upper Room.

Ian Schrager for inviting me to design costumes for the first big New Years Eve party at Studio 54 for the Grace Jones performance…then becoming my best friend and my biggest supporter through the years. And introducing me to Marty Edelman.

To Bette Midler, the super-talented, generous, funny human for finding me early on in our careers and inviting me to help her design the powerful Bette look in its rawest early stages.

And in memory of Jeanine.

Joan Jett for letting me have so much fun with leather and her Elvis looks.

Whitney Houston for the ease and elegance she wore my swim and clothes.

Vinny Pascal, friends since we were 16 posing for me while I sketched him to exhaustion.

Farrah Fawcett for having my red swimsuit in her bag when she shot her famous poster.

Victor Hugo, Halston’s collaborator, for knocking off my swimsuit and then paying me back by introducing me to parachutes!!

Eddie Kamali for selling clothes for 10 times the price I thought anyone should pay for my first designs.

Diane Edwards for sharing a fun history with me in London through the 60’s, one of the most powerfully exciting times of my life.

Marylou Luther and Arthur for helping to get me sewing machines when I decided to go on my own.

Sidney Kimmel who had blind faith in my sweats, signed a deal with me and never saw a sample.

Bob Currie for camping with me and being part of the discovery of the Sleeping Bag Coat.

Elizabeth Racine, my mentor and sister in life.

Lady Gaga for wearing the wedding gown I designed for her mother in 1983 in her music video.

Beyoncé for wearing my clothes since Destiny’s Child and looking more and more beautiful.

Etta James for her inspiration and friendship and making anything for her for the pure joy and worship of her talent.

Rihanna for looking amazing in everyone’s clothing and even some of mine, from my Sleeping Bag Coat to Fringe.

Jennifer Lopez for looking fantastic in my favorite swim photos ever.”