Time to celebrate sisterhood
Things were a little bit different out there when we opened our first salon back in 1974. In our 44th year – a time quite unlike any other for women – we’re celebrating sisterhood with our first Saks Woman of the Year.
Our shortlist is made up of 12 fierce females who add glam, grit, humour and pizzazz to every day. Each known for going beyond in fields of film, literature, music, sport, TV, business and as brilliant role models of today. Game changers who embody traits that we love, admire and rock ourselves: talent, humour, courage, empathy, personal style and SASS.
Speaking of sass – enter YOU. Your chance to celebrate sisterhood and vote to win! Our Saks Woman of the Year will be announced in October 2018. In the meantime – as well as banging the drum for your fave – you’ll be entered into our monthly free prize draw for the chance to win £100 to spend at Saks salons all over the place. Sound like a plan?
SAKS WOMEN OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST in no particular order…
EMMA WATSON
Actor and activist. Hermione inspires young girls to study hard and aim high. Taking a leaf out of Ms Grainger’s book, Emma did just that around the day job; achieving a degree in English literature at Brown. With impeccable ‘fashion darling’ credentials Emma starred in stellar campaigns for Burberry, Chanel and more. As UN Ambassador Emma helped launch the HeForShe campaign, calling for men to advocate gender equality – watch. Only 28 this year.
“Wingardium Leviosaaa Ronald” indeed.
NICOLA ADAMS
Leeds lass Nicola was the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title and the first openly LGBT person to win an Olympic boxing Gold. A boxing veteran with over 200 amateur and two professional fights under her belt! Suffered severe allergies as a child and was diagnosed with ADHD… until boxing became the antidote. Puts everything down to mum Dee who told her that she could be as good as Muhammed Ali.
Stings like a bee.
JODIE WHITTAKER
Hurrah… Doctor Who is finally female! We thrilled that our 13th Time Lord (surely not Time Lady) is Jodie Whittaker and we can’t wait for her to head up team-tardis in autumn. This warm Yorkshire lass first captured our hearts with her portrayal of Broadchurch’s heartbroken Beth Latimer, finding inner strength to deal with the loss of her son.
Bring on this regeneration.
PALOMA FAITH
Too many reasons to LOVE Paloma. This London girl is a super talented singer/songwriter and applauded for her chameleon-style, fusing retro with eclectic looks – the whole deal. Good call recently on keeping first child’s name and gender under wraps to aim for a pap-free childhood. FACT: Friend of a Saks friend… Paloma’s stylist Karl Willett styles our Saks brand campaigns beautifully too.
The Architect is on repeat.
JK ROWLING
The rags to riches story that we love. Overcoming adversity and poverty as a single mum and rising like Fawkes to become the world’s first billionaire author. And then giving (and continuing to give) huge amounts to numerous charities, Honorary Scot JK’s a modern-day moral inspiration. FACT: Harry was conceived on a delayed train from Manchester to Kings Cross in 1990. Hurrah for that delay!
Note to Galbraith: more Cormoron and Holly adventures soon please
KARREN BRADY
The ‘First Lady of Football’ rocks several roles including vice-chair at West Ham and being Lord Sugar’s right hand-woman in The Apprentice – shutting them down with the look is pure TV gold. A passionate advocate of championing women in business, Baroness Brady says: “You can’t determine where you start off in life but you can determine where you end up.”
And we say “word”.
NADIYA HUSSAIN
Mum to three kids, baker, columnist, author and TV presenter. Nadiya rose to fame after winning Bake Off 2015. Now rocks cookery shows, kids books, Loose Women AND baked the cake for HRH’s 90th birthday. Named by Debrett’s as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK and is also on BBC News’ 100 Women list.
Web bio states: “Mama and maker” ahhhh
LORRAINE KELLY
Mornings wouldn’t be the same without Lorraine; the long-time resident of the sofa sets us up for the day. Fulfilled an ambition in 2017 by travelling to Antarctica, in the footsteps of hero Sir Ernest Shackleton and lives by granny’s advice: “don’t save anything for best”. Ambassador for The Eve Appeal‘s Make Time For Tea 2018 campaign to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, *ahem* our national charity partner!
Known by first name only: A-lister status in the bag.
LUCY FALLON
A brilliant young actress who’s become the nation’s sweetheart for her gutsy portrayal of Bethany Platt in Corrie – Lucy’s expert handling of exploitation and child grooming storylines have earned massive accolades with viewers and media alike. NTA and Inside Soap awards on her mantelpiece and no doubt of more to come. *Ahem*… Saks girl alert! Lucy’s bessies with our super creative stylist Sam at Saks Poulton and pops in regularly for hair and time-out in our Beauty Compact hot seat.
We love Lucy.
HELEN MIRREN
Ain’t no-one like this Dame. With a stellar career spanning over 40 years, La Mironoff epitomises beauty just getting better and better. Chosen by our mates at L’Oreal as Brand Ambassador as a result of participants in their survey repeatedly described Helen as “genuine, intelligent and glamorous, with looks that seem only to improve with the passing of time“. Helen exudes star quality and We Want What She’s Got.
More Queen than the Queen.
STEPH HOUGHTON
From a Saturday job in a sports shop in Newcastle upon Tyne to captaining England’s women’s football team since January 2014, Steph is one of the most accomplished women footballers in the world. 80 England caps at time of print, Steph came back from serious injuries to play in the 2011 World Cup and Euro 2013. Appointed MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football – recognition indeed.
She shoots, she scores.
AMAL CLOONEY
Ranked as one of the top lawyers in the UK; Amal’s super-respected in the fields of international human-rights and international law. Now also one of the world’s most recognizable faces having married George back in September 2014 and mum to twins Ella and Alexander, she’s renowned for not courting celebrity status. The career, the fam, Lake Como, and that wardrobe. Modern day icon.
Mostly we covet Amal’s attitude.
SO… WHO’S YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
Celebrate sisterhood and vote to win.
See page for T&Cs.
Images: Alamy