YouTuber-turned-TV presenter Lilly Singh is ready to put “Doctor of Philosophy” on her signature after receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from her alma mater, the University of York, on Wednesday.
Singh was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to the community and achievements in pop culture and entertainment in Toronto.
“I feel like from now on this will be my whole identity,” Singh said before the ceremony.
“Perhaps it will be my biography, perhaps my next tattoo, perhaps a wrap on my car. Just very subtle things.”
Singh said her mom even suggested honoring the award with a sign outside their house that said “Lilly Singh, Ph.D.,” something she said she's seen people do in India.
Singh said she plans to celebrate by devoting a day to self-care, hugging her doctorate and writing a letter to her younger self.
“In moments like these, it’s really important to remember where you come from, to talk to that little girl,” she said.
In her address to the gathering, the Toronto-raised artist said she still remembers the first time she took the stage in 2010, when she completed her degree in psychology.
At the time, she said, under her dress she wore a T-shirt with the letter “S,” representing her YouTube handle “Superwoman.”
“At the time, I knew little about where this would take me, and even less about how copyright works,” she joked in her speech.
The 37-year-old actress gained worldwide fame thanks to her YouTube comedy, which she began posting as a teenager. Over the years, she has amassed millions of followers on social media and has moved on to a career in more traditional media.
She hosted a short-lived late-night show. A Little Late with Lilly Singh in 2019 and a CTV game show Battle of generations starting in 2023.
She said her career has had its ups and downs and she doesn't think that's a bad thing.
“I think it's very important to know right away what you want to do for the rest of your life,” she said after the ceremony.
“I don't think you'll ever understand this. Not now, not in 10 years, not in 30 years. I think you will be a student for life and you should fully embrace that,” she said.
Singh has also made a career in films, playing roles in Bad guys animated film franchise. Most recently, she co-wrote, produced and starred in the film Do ita sex comedy that opened in US cinemas last month.
Her career in show business brought her to Los Angeles in 2015, where she still lives.
“Every day I get asked if I’m going back to Canada,” she said.
She's not ready to commit, but said rising tensions between Canada and the United States have made the situation somewhat more complicated.
“I think I will always go where my purpose is and where I am meant to serve. So at the moment I go back and forth,” she said. “We're going to go with the flow. We're going to figure it out. But yeah, it’s very stressful.”
She said her parents also tell her from time to time that they are afraid to go to Los Angeles, saying they are not sure they will be allowed in or will have a hard time crossing the border.
“I don’t think anyone would want to pay huge tariffs on goods,” she added. “It has affected many aspects of everyone’s lives.”
