The GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards has long stood as a powerful platform honouring women who break boundaries, shift culture, and redefine what leadership looks like. It’s a celebration of brilliance, resilience, and influence — bringing together exceptional women from every corner of society.
This year, Dark & Lovely joins the occasion as an exclusive partner, marking a collaboration rooted in shared values of empowerment, authenticity, and unapologetic self-expression. Just as GLAMOUR shines a spotlight on trailblazers who move the world forward, Dark & Lovely has spent decades championing diverse beauty and inspiring confidence through products that honour identity.
We caught up with Dark & Lovely to explore this inspiring partnership and what it means to stand with GLAMOUR for such a landmark event.
Why has your brand chosen to partner with GLAMOUR for this event?
GLAMOUR has a trusted legacy of elevating women’s stories with depth, credibility, and cultural relevance. As a brand born to celebrate and serve women with textured hair, we see GLAMOUR as a natural ally: they reach a broad, engaged audience, champion diverse voices, and create platforms where beauty, identity, and achievement are explored with nuance.
Partnering with GLAMOUR allows us to spotlight the brilliance of women across industries while bringing our expertise in textured hair care to an environment that values authenticity and representation. Together, we can amplify the impact of the event and ensure that women feel seen, celebrated, and supported.
What makes awards such as WOTY meaningful to your organisation, and why is the empowerment of women a priority within your brand ethos?
The Women of the Year Awards are meaningful because they validate the breadth of women’s contributions — often those that have historically been under-recognised. Recognition energises communities, inspires the next generation, and shifts culture toward greater inclusivity.
Empowerment is at the core of Dark & Lovely’s ethos. Our brand was created to meet the specific needs of women, and we understand that beauty is more than aesthetics — it is confidence, self-definition, and agency. By providing science-backed products, education, and platforms for self-expression, we help women show up as their fullest selves.
That commitment extends beyond hair: we advocate for representation, economic participation, and access to opportunity because we know that when women thrive, families and communities thrive.
What aspects of the upcoming event are you most looking forward to?
Honouring the honourees — their originality, resilience, and leadership — and seeing how their stories inspire attendees. Discovering emerging voices, entrepreneurs, artists, and activists, and exploring ways to support their journeys beyond the event.
In what ways do you believe your brand’s values and GLAMOUR’s mission intersect to create a purposeful and impactful partnership?
Both GLAMOUR and Dark & Lovely champion visibility and broaden the definition of excellence by expanding the lens through which beauty and success are portrayed. We share a commitment to inclusion, celebrating diverse identities, hair textures, and lived experiences while upholding high editorial and product standards.
Together, we connect inspiration with practical support: storytelling that uplifts, paired with education, resources, and community programmes that help women take the next step — whether in career, creativity, or personal care. The result is a partnership that doesn’t just celebrate women for a single evening; it helps build lasting ecosystems of confidence, access, and opportunity.
How does your brand envision its long-term role in shaping conversations around women’s leadership, visibility, and cultural influence?
By convening and contributing to ongoing dialogues, panels, workshops, and digital series that centre women’s leadership and the intersection of beauty, identity, and economic empowerment. By championing representation — supporting creators and leaders who redefine mainstream narratives, and advocating for inclusive standards in media and beauty. And by continuing to serve women with products and knowledge that enable daily confidence, because when women feel powerful in their own skin and hair, they are more likely to claim space, lead, and influence culture.
