Salma Hayek wants to encourage girls to feel ''unique.''

The 49-year-old actress, who has eight-year-old daughter Valentina, thinks it's important new generations have the confidence to stand out and be their own person.

Speaking to Time magazine at Variety's Power of Women luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, last week, she said: ''I think the most important thing to tell for the new generations is to have the courage to be unique, to be curious about who they are, instead of trying to blend in.''

She added: ''The most important thing to say to the girls is to not try to be like the other girls. Not to try to fit in, but to try to really be profound thinkers that are excited about their differences and explore what they are and who they are and what can come out of the new.''

The brunette beauty, who was honoured for her work with the Chime for Change charity at the event, thinks woman will soon be able to ''change the world'' with their powerful voice.

She explained: ''I think the voice of women can change the world, but we don't know our voice. We've never really investigated. We've been too busy for many, many decades and generations, trying to operate within systems that were designed by men. I don't think we really have tapped into our potential or our own creativity.''