"I’m truly having a hard time processing it."
Lilly Singh was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from York University, recognising her contributions to community building and her impact on pop culture and entertainment in Toronto.
Singh, who graduated from York in 2010 with a degree in psychology, received the honorary doctorate on October 15.
Before the ceremony, she said: “I do sense this will become my entire personality from this moment on.
“This will probably be my bio, probably my next tattoo, probably the wrap on my car. Just really subtle things.”
During her convocation speech, Singh recalled crossing the same stage in 2010 when she first graduated. At the time, she wore a T-shirt under her gown with an “S” on it to represent her YouTube alias, Superwoman.
She joked: “I knew little about where that would take me at the time and clearly I knew even less about how copyright works.”
On Instagram, Lilly Singh wrote: “I am Dr Singh.
“Words can’t even begin to describe what an immense honour it is to receive a doctorate from my very own @yorkuniversity.
“I’m truly having a hard time processing it.”
She gained global fame for her comedic videos on YouTube, building a massive online following before moving into traditional media.
Reflecting on her career, Singh said: “I think there’s a lot of pressure to like immediately know what you want to do for the rest of your life.
“I don’t think that you are going to ever have figured it out. Not now, not 10 years from now, not 30 years from now. I think you’re gonna be a student for life and you should fully embrace that.”
Lilly Singh, who moved to Los Angeles in 2015, has also appeared in The Bad Guys film franchise and recently co-wrote, produced, and starred in Doin’ It, a sex-ed comedy released in US theatres in September 2025.
On whether she would move back to Canada, she said:
“Every day, someone has asked me if I’m moving back to Canada.”
“I think I will always go where my purpose is meant to be and where I’m meant to serve. So as of right now, I am going back and forth.
“We’re going to go with the flow. We’re going to figure it out. But yes, it’s very stressful.”
She also noted that her parents often express concern about travelling to Los Angeles amid tensions between the two countries:
“I don’t think that anyone wants to pay a bazillion tariffs on things. It has impacted a lot of parts of everyone’s life.”
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