I’ve just got back from the Johnson & Johnson Beauty Journalism Awards and incredibly I won the main award - Beauty Journalist of the Year! I was also named Freelance Journalist of the Year.

These awards are the equivalent of the Oscars to us beauty writers. I’ve been attending the event for the past two years and while I’ve been shortlisted many times, I’ve never won, so I’m over the moon!
This year it was held at The Royal Institute of British Architects on Portland Place. The winners were chosen by a judging panel made up of the leading figures in women’s magazines, including Trish Halpern, editor of Marie Claire, Marianne Jones, deputy editor of Grazia and Justine Southall, publishing director of Grazia. To be recognised amongst my peers, including beauty editors whose work I have admired for years and to have my work commended by top people in the industry makes me feel very humbled.

I was also really pleased that the Freelance Journalist of the Year award was given to me on the strength of my feature on skin lightening, which I wrote for Asiana. It is a subject I am very passionate  about and it was for a magazine I have been writing for, for years.

I won some amazing prizes, including a trip to New Orleans next year - I can’t wait to go there and tell you all about it.

Congratulations to all the other winners and thanks J & J for a great night.