The winners of the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2024

ISHA AMBANI

Icon of The Year

A visionary entrepreneur and advocate for sustainability,Isha Ambani spearheadsRelianceRetailand drives its expansion into new categories, geographies and formats. She has led the expansion of the digital footprint for Reliance Retail and launched new formats such as the e-commerce business Ajio, and the online beauty platform Tira.Influential in the growth of Reliance Retail and Jio Platforms, Isha Ambani has transformed the retail and telecom sectors in India. Under her leadership, Reliance Retail is among the Top-10 Retailers in Asia and the only Indian retailer in the list of global top 100 retailers. Isha Ambani is actively involved in overseeing the vision and impact of Reliance Foundation and is closely involved with the foundation’s work with children and women.

NEERJA BIRLA

Philanthropist

The Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust, Neerja Birla is known for her contributions to education, mental health awareness and women’s empowerment through the centres of excellence that she has established—Mpower,Aditya BirlaWorld Academy,The Aditya Birla Integrated School, Nalanda & Aditya Birla Education Academy. She has received the G20 Empower India ‘Woman Achiever Award 2023’ and the ‘Golden Peacock Award 2023’ for Social Leadership, among several other accolades.

GAURI KHAN

Interior Designer

Known for her refined and luxurious design sensibilities, Gauri Khan launched Gauri Khan Designs (GKD) in 2010, a luxury interior design firm that has since become one of India’s most prestigious firms. She has designed high-end homes and commercial spaces with her unique blend of elegance and contemporary style for several prominent figures and Bollywood celebrities.

NATASHA POONAWALLA

Style Icon

Natasha Poonawalla is the Executive Director of Serum Institute of India and the Director of Poonawalla Science Park, Netherlands. She serves as Chairperson of Serum Life Sciences UK and Chairperson of theVilloo Poonawalla Foundation. She is reckoned as a global fashion icon with her maximalist and experimental fashion choices. Poonawalla has successfully merged couture with contemporary elegance on the world stage. Known for her avant-garde style, she is a regular at prestigious red carpet events including the Met Gala, Kering Foundation Gala 2024.

KRITI SANON

Actor

Kriti Sanon won the National Award in 2023 for playing the lead role of a surrogate mother in Mimi. She is known to challenge herself as an artiste with diverse roles such as the horror comedy Bhediya and heist film Crew. Sanon has expanded her horizons launching her production house Blue Butterfly Films and her premium skincare brand Hyphen in 2023. She also made her OTT debut with Do Patti on Netflix last month.

ANANYA PANDAY

Spotlight Actor

The rising star of Indian cinema,Ananya Panday has made a mark with her incredible performances, both on the big screen and OTT. She has connected with audiences across generations with her portrayal as young women navigating the perils of urban life and technology in films like Gehraiyaan, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and CTRL. Panday has started an initiative called So Positive, a digital social responsibility campaign to create awareness about cyber-bullying, particularly among youth.

ANITA DONGRE

Fashion Designer

A visionary in Indian fashion, Anita Dongre has redefined sustainable luxury with her timeless designs and commitment to empowering rural artisans. Spearheaded by the designer,The Anita Dongre Foundation is a catalyst for change, committed to sustainability, animal welfare and women empowerment. Recently, Dongre collaborated with Mattel for the first ever Barbie signature Diwali doll. She has expanded her label to include jewellery, ethical beauty products, and a line of vegan handbags.

KANIKA GOYAL

Spotlight Fashion

Known for blending bold streetwear aesthetics with avant- garde sensibilities, designer Kanika Goyal has tapped into the global cultural zeitgeist with her international outings at New York and London Fashion Weeks. She plays with the idea of androgynous looks and elevates basics into contemporary styles. Goyal has also partnered with prominent global brands merging her unique design approach with mainstream appeal.

AVANTI NAGRATH

Supermodel

Model, Avanti Nagrath is a prominent face on the global fashion circuit. From gracing the runway of renowned Indian fashion designers like, Ritu Kumar and Manish Malhotra, to becoming the first Indian model to open for Versace at Milan Fashion Week in 2022, Avanti is breaking barriers in the fashion industry. She has represented India on international runways like Chanel, Burberry,and Dior.

ANAITA SHROFF ADAJANIA

Stylist

Anaita Shroff Adajania is one of the leading voices within India’s fashion community. A celebrated stylist and creative director, Adajania has shaped the landscape of Indian fashion with her trendsetting vision and editorial brilliance. She has styled celebrities and Bollywood icons like Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Isha Ambani, and Natasha Poonawalla.

GEETANJALI SHREE

Author

Geetanjali Shree is the winner of the 2022 International Booker Prize for her novel, Tomb of Sand (Ret Samadhi in the Hindi original) becoming the first Indian writer to receive the accolade.The novel also won the Warwick Prize for women in translation. Shree, the Hindi language novelist and short story writer, has captivated readers with her evocative storytelling. She has written six novels and five collections of short stories. Her work is translated into many Indian and foreign languages.

SHAKUNTALA KULKARNI

Artist

Shakuntala Kulkarni is an acclaimed multi-disciplinary artist known for her powerful explorations of identity, tradition, and the female form through innovative sculptures. At the Paris Fashion Week this year, Kulkarni’s cane sculptures were featured as the backdrop for the Dior show gaining widespread acclaim and attention. Her work has been showcased in prestigious exhibitions worldwide, including the Indian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Art Unlimited at Art Basel, and the Dhaka Art Summit.

PAYAL KAPADIA

Film Director

Screenwriter and director, Payal Kapadia is nothing short of a trailblazer. Her 2024 film, AllWe Imagine As Light made history as the first from India to win the Cannes Grand Prix this year. In 2021, Kapadia’s first full length film A Night of Nothing won the Golden Eye Award for best documentary At the 74th Cannes Film Festival. She has captivated global audiences with her innovative storytelling and profound cinematic artistry.

AVANI RAI

Photographer

A remarkable photographer and documentary filmmaker, Avani Rai has made a name for herself through her poignant photo essays on significant social issues, including the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, The Kashmir Conflict, and the Chennai Water Crisis. She ventured into filmmaking with her notable work, Raghu Rai-An Unframed Portrait. She won the Moral Approach Award at MakeDox (Macedonia) the documentary that depicted her father’s photographic journey intertwined with India’s history over the last 50 years.

AVANI LEKHARA

Sportsperson

Avani Lekhara is India’s first female Paralympic double gold medalist in shooting. She is an inspiring icon for many. Her success extends beyond the Paralympics, with multiple medals at international competitions such as the Para Shooting World Cup and the World Shooting Para Sport Championships. She has been honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021, India’s highest sporting accolade, and the Padma Shri in 2022, recognising her significant contributions to Indian sports.

JONITA GANDHI

Musician

Jonita Gandhi is a versatile vocalist known for her soulful renditions across multiple languages. From her Canadian roots to collaborating with Bollywood legends, she has carved her own niche in the music industry with popular playback hits such as The Breakup Song” from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ghar More Pardesiya from Kalank, and What Jhumka? from Rocky Our Rani Ki Prem Kahaani.Whether it is her upcoming performance where she will be opening for Dua Lipa or her world tour with Aniruddh Ravichander, she is raring to go.

NAMRATA SONI

Make-up Artist

The celebrated make-up artist and beauty entrepreneur, Namrata Soni is known for her innovative techniques and transformative artistry. In 2020, Soni launched Simply Nam, with a focus on high-performance beauty products that are vegan and cruelty-free. She’s also set up her own beauty academy, the Namrata Soni Makeup and Hair Academy.

HOUSE OF MISU: MITALI SAGAR AND SUMMIYYA PATNI
Luxury Content Creator

The creative forces behind the House of Misu, Mitali Sagar and Summiyya Patni, have redefined the luxury fashion and lifestyle content space with their distinct vision and aesthetics. They were the first Indian influencers to attend the Paris Fashion Week in 2017.Their collaborations with some of the coveted luxury brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chopard, and BMW have earned them a place among the leading voices in fashion and lifestyle.

This piece originally appeared in the October-November print edition of Harper's Bazaar India.

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