The awards ceremony for the third edition of the Black Carpet Awards, sponsored by the City of Milan and supported by the National Chamber of Italian Fashion, was held at the Teatro Manzoni in Milan. Promoted by the Afro Fashion Association, the event celebrates Leaders of Change, individuals of all origins and backgrounds who have distinguished themselves through their concrete commitment to promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity within the creative industry. This edition was particularly significant, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Afro Fashion Association.
This edition's special guest was Naomi Campbell, world-renowned supermodel and longtime activist for representation and equity in the industry. The evening was hosted by Tamu McPherson, creative and chief executive of All the Pretty Birds Official, founder of Shoe Up for Justice, and ambassador for Corporate Social Responsibility for Bulgari.
During the evening, the ten winners, selected from twenty-two finalists, were announced for the five Leaders of Change award categories. Two winners were chosen for each category: one by the jury and one by the public. This year's One-Time Award was dedicated to the memory of Koyo Kouoh, the recently deceased curator whose vision and artistic production significantly contributed to the promotion of African and diasporic art in Italy. Among the most anticipated moments was the presentation of "The New Wave," a video dedicated to ten creative talents from around the world.
The Black Carpet Awards remain an unmissable event on the Milan Fashion Week Women's calendar: an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and promote a more inclusive vision of society. In her opening speech, Michelle Francine Ngonmo, founder and ceo of the Afro Fashion Association, stated: "In a world that often builds walls instead of tearing them down, the Black Carpet Awards remind us that there are voices capable of uniting rather than dividing, but above all, that representation generates access. We created the Afro Fashion Association and the Black Carpet Awards to give visibility to those who have remained invisible for too long, offering a platform to those who simply ask to be heard. Today, more than ever, it is crucial to build rather than destroy, to celebrate differences and transform them into collective strength."
The winners of the five main categories are Nogaye Ndiaye and Mariam Battistelli for Culture, Rediet Longo and Augusta Carter for Creativity, Aya Mohamed and Ronke Oluwadare for Community, Antonio Dikele Distefano together with Caterina Monda & Debrina Aliyah for Entrepreneurship, and finally Igiaba Scego and Leandra Medeiros Cerezo for Legacy. The winners were selected by a jury of international professionals, including Stella Jean, IB Kamara, Honey Dijon, Edward Buchanan, Carlo Capasa, and Marco Bizzarri.
Afro Fashion Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015, active between Italy and sub-Saharan Africa. Led by volunteers, it promotes fashion, art, and culture as tools for intercultural exchange, empowerment, and sustainable economic development. Its mission is to promote emerging African and BIPOC creatives through an international platform, create market opportunities for Black and minority entrepreneurs, and promote an African identity grounded in creativity, innovation, and cultural richness.
