The Black Magic Awards are nearly here, (9 September), and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The effects of Black Girl Magic is potent, we see its positivity everywhere, empowering and celebrating black women all over the world. Here in the UK, we have a spectacular squad of women who epitomise the black girl magic spirit.
The first ever Black Magic Awards, organised by The Colour Network, is about honouring women of colour who have pushed boundaries and made remarkable contributions across different industries, be it entertainment, business, education or the community. The following women do all of this and more, not only shining but, sprinkling magic dust whilst they do so.
So, without further ado, here are this year’s honourees.
Angie Le Mar
A woman of many talents, Angie Le Mar is a multi-award winning British comedienne, writer, director, presenter and producer. Did we mention that she was also the first female stand-up on the Black British comedy circuit?
Vanessa Kingori MBE
With a few firsts under her belt, Vanessa Kingori is the first female Publisher of British GQ as well as the first black Publisher at Condé Nast. She also has an MBE awarded for her work in the publishing industry.
Rachel Yankey
An Arsenal ladies’ legend (although she has now left the team), footballer, Rachel Yankey also plays for the national England team. Awarded with an OBE, when she was eight, she shaved off her hair and played in the boy’s football team for two years before she was caught!
Angela Griffin
Actress and TV presenter, Angela Griffin has been on our screens since 1992. She has appeared in numerous TV favourites over the years, most notably in Coronation Street, Holby City and Waterloo Road.
Charlene White
Temporarily off our screens, having recently given birth to her first child (congratulations!), Charlene White is a newsreader and journalist. She once held the accolade of being the youngest journalist at ITV News where she now presents ITV News London.
Bianca Miller
Not only was she a runner up in Alan Sugar’s The Apprentice, following which she launched her Bianca Miller London hosiery range to cater to a wide range of skin tones, she is also the founder of The Be Group, a personal branding and image consultancy business.
Mis-Teeq
Long before she became British showbiz royalty with her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent, Alesha Dixon was one third of popular, early noughties R&B group Mis-Teeq, along with Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash. Remember their single Scandalous?
Jenny Francis
The Lady of Soul, Jenny Francis is an iconic Radio DJ having worked at Choice FM for 23 years. Nowadays, her sultry vocals can be heard on Heart FM where she lays up smooth tracks late at night.
Beverley De Gale
Turning personal tragedy to a lifetime of helping others after losing her son Daniel to complications with Leukaemia, in 1996 Beverley De Gale co-founded the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT). Her tireless work to get more black people to register saw her awarded with an OBE.
Eve
Eve is a Grammy award-winning rapper and actress and holds the honour of being the first recipient of a brand-new Grammy award category in 2002 for best rap song collaboration along with Gwen Sefani. These days, she calls the UK home after she settled here with her British entrepreneur husband, Maximillon Cooper.
Jasmine Dotiwala
Jasmine Dotiwala is a director, producer, broadcaster and columnist. Having worked with MTV, Choice FM and the Huffington Post, she is often seen pictured up close and personal with celebrities. It would be quicker to list who she hasn’t interviewed in the showbiz world than those she has!
Black Magic is thriving in the UK and it is only right that we recognise the contribution and impact that all these beautiful women and many others make in society. If you can’t make it on the night, we’ll be there to give you a roundup of the night’s sparkling event.
Click here to buy tickets here.
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