CEW Achiever Awards 2014 - The Beauty Oscars

 Last Thursday, 20th November, I was delighted to attend what in the beauty industry is known as the 'Beauty Oscars'. One night a year a board of women within the beauty industry come together to honour and recognise talent within the industry with the CEW Achiever Awards. We were greeted by champagne and canapés under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights and joined the crowd, which was buzzing with excitement. 

I could identify a few of the big wigs in the room; Chris Good of Estee Lauder, my idol Charlotte Tilbury and a gaggle of big brands and retailers. I felt a little out of place and a bit awkward as the waiter noticed I was a feeder and kept bringing over delicious treats. 

We were ushered into the ballroom for the awards ceremony to begin and I have to say that CEW had done an amazing job. The decor looked incredible and I was so excited to see all the women I admire and aspire to go up to collect their awards. This year we had some amazing people recognised. 

CEW LIFETIME ACHIEVER AWARD 2014

This is the big one and it was so well delivered! The woman who is just as famous for her hair as her incredible talents. This year’s winner, Suzy Menkes, was appointed Fashion Editor of the London Evening Standard at age 24 and over three decades, her reviews and insights have appeared in the world’s leading press titles and currently reach over 38 million people on 19 Vogue international websites. Her acceptance speech was heartfelt and inspiring, something I hope to have. 

“The difference between passing fashion and lasting beauty was written in the words of Avedon himself. ‘If you do what I have done, which is to record the beauty of your time, that doesn't go out of fashion,’ he said. 

I would like to thank the CEW and Caroline Neville, for giving me - a fashion editor - a lifetime award for understanding that fashion is transient - but beauty is eternal.” 
Suzy Menkes, International Vogue Editor. 

Other award winners were -

CEW ACHIEVER AWARDS 2014 - 

Céline Gilg - General Manager UK and Ireland, Tom Ford Beauty

Debbie Ansell - UK Head of Beauty, World Duty Free Group

Charlotte Tilbury - Founder and Creative Director, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

Lisa Smosarski - Editor, Stylist Magazine 

CEW SPECIAL INDUSTRY AWARD 2014 - Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods.

CEW MEMBERS' ACHIEVER AWARD 2014 - Mia Collins, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Beauty at Harrods.

CEW DIGITAL ACHIEVER AWARD sponsored by Google - Claire Vero, founder of the award winning Aurelia Probiotic Skincare.

It was an emotional evening for the Achiever Award recipients and their families, I was welling up after almost every speech!  We headed off into the chilly winter night and I slipped into the warm back seat of a taxi off to bedfordshire. 

Stay beautiful

xoxo