Andrea Mandell

USA TODAY

Just in case you thought Lady Gaga and her stylist-turned-designer Brandon Maxwell were merely showfriends, think again. Maxwell, who was awarded Best Designer Debut at The Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards at Sunset Tower Hotel Sunday night, moved the crowd when he toasted Gaga as a central part in his journey.

Read on to find for a transcript of Maxwell's speech on how the pop star inspired her longtime, Texas-born stylist to strike out on his own after he moved to New York as a novice a decade ago.

"I was really young and a girl walked through the door and said hi, and gave me a hug," Maxwell told the crowd filled with faces like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Lopez. "And she let me brush her hair and put clothes on her and help her with her makeup. And when I went through a breakup, she would fly across the country in the middle of the night. When I was having a hard time, she would talk to my parents on the phone. When I hated everything about my life, she came to me every day and told me I was good enough. When I wanted to make a dress for the first time with my own two hands, she wore it, and she acted like it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever worn in her whole life."

"It was!" called out Gaga from the first row. "It was blue velvet!"

"Yeah, it was," said Maxwell, to laughter.

"I don't live in Hollywood," he continued. "I think it's very very fun here, but I'm not from here. And I think you're all beautiful and amazing. But you know, back in New York I had a true friend who was there for me. I know that I'm not here without you (Gaga). And it would never have been possible. My point about Hollywood is that you all seem lovely, but I've met a few who are not."

Cue laughter from the crowd.

"You are obviously are legendary and talented and a big star, I understand," he said to Gaga, "but the person that you've been to me, the things that you've put out into the world, and show and say you are, is truly what you are at home. I'm very happy I have this career, and I'm very thankful for all you've done for me in that way. But I'm more proud of the things that you've done for me at 4 o' clock in the morning for almost the past 10 years of my life – and for truly keeping me alive, so thank you very much."

An emotional Lady Gaga returned the favor at the podium. "For three years before (tonight) I had one of the hardest times of my life, ever," she said, toasting Maxwell. "And you were by side every single day to pick me up, and help me to face the entire world when I felt very sad. I'm very grateful to you for that. Because when you become famous when you're young, it's almost like you stop growing up. And I needed my sweet gay best friend to help me become a woman. And you really did. There was something liberating about taking off the fishnets and the leather and knowing that I was good enough to wear a ball gown and that I could be proud in one."

Check out Lady Gaga wearing Brandon Maxwell at the Oscars

At the Vanity Fair after-party

And at the Weinstein pre-Oscars dinner

Nicole Richie hosted the L.A. fashion week awards, which also named Lady Gaga Editor of the Year, Carine Roitfeld and CR Fashion Book for Magazine of the Year, Eva Chow for Fashion Innovator, Jennifer Meyer for Best Jewelry Designer, Bella Hadid for Model of the Year, Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi for Best Women’s Stylists, Jeanne Yang for Best Men’s Stylist, Baja East for Emerging Designers and Karl Lagerfeld for Fashion Icon.