Variety Awarded Courage Honor to Paige DeSorbo
The television personality and podcaster received the award for her advocacy on domestic violence and animal welfare.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Sex Life
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Variety presented the Courage Award to Paige DeSorbo at its recent Power of Women event. The honor recognizes her public advocacy for domestic violence survivors and her efforts to increase support for pets in shelters.
Why it matters
DeSorbo uses her platform to share personal experiences with abuse, aiming to encourage others to leave difficult situations. Her focus on pet-friendly shelters addresses a critical gap in resources for domestic violence survivors.
Only 20% of domestic violence shelters currently accept pets, a statistic central to DeSorbo's advocacy work with the Purina-sponsored Purple Leash Project. The 33-year-old DeSorbo previously spent seven seasons starring on the television show Summer House.
The players
Paige DeSorbo
She is a 33-year-old media personality, author, and podcaster known for her work on reality television and various red carpet events.
Hannah Berner
She is a comedian and podcast host who co-developed content and signed a major deal with SiriusXM alongside Paige DeSorbo.
Purina
This global pet food company sponsors the Purple Leash Project and provides financial and resource support for animal-friendly domestic violence initiatives.
Variety
This trade publication covers the entertainment industry and organizes the annual Power of Women event to recognize humanitarian work.
The details
Following her departure from Summer House in 2025, DeSorbo has expanded her media career through a $150 million podcast deal with SiriusXM alongside Hannah Berner. She continues to host red carpet segments for Vanity Fair and the Actor Awards while developing a new comedy series for Netflix.
Timeline
DeSorbo and Berner launched the Giggly Squad podcast in 2020.
DeSorbo and Conover ended their relationship in 2024.
DeSorbo adopted her cat Daphne in the summer of 2024.
DeSorbo left Summer House in 2025.
DeSorbo discussed her career trajectory in an interview in late July 2026.
Culture Shift
This recognition reflects a broader trend of public figures leveraging their platforms to highlight systemic gaps in social services. By aligning with the Purple Leash Project, the advocacy follows a pattern set by established institutional initiatives that seek to connect pet welfare with survivor support.
Readers can support the cause by researching local shelters that offer pet-friendly accommodations for domestic violence survivors. The advocacy encourages individuals to prioritize the safety of both themselves and their pets when seeking exit strategies from abusive relationships.
The takeaway
Advocacy efforts that integrate pet safety into domestic violence resources provide a vital, often overlooked lifeline for survivors. Implementing these standards in community shelters ensures that victims do not have to choose between their own safety and the well-being of their pets.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of media and personal advocacy, visit the Sex Life section.
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