Veuve Clicquot Elle Boss 2018 Awards: Winners announced!

Melody Xaba and Dr Judey Pretorius were announced as winners. © Elle Facebook.

Dr Judey Pretorius and Melody Xaba were announced as winners on the night and graciously accepted their awards from South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha.

The award has become a powerful challenge to the status quo, recognising, rewarding and giving visionary businesswomen the acknowledgement, they deserve.

The spirit of 18th century Madame Clicquot

CEO and founder of Ndalo Pictures and Ndalo Media Khanyi Dhlomo says, “The calibre of women who are making a difference in our country never fails to impress me. All six finalists embodied the audacious and intelligent spirit of 18th century Madame Clicquot in their own unique and remarkable ways, and the decision was, as always, a very tough one.”

Joining Dhlomo on the esteemed panel of judges this year were Yolanda Miya, managing director of Financing Solutions Group Deutsche Bank, Maira Koutsoudakis, CEO of Life Group of Companies, Maria Lambros, CEO of Prestige Cosmetics, Monique Mass, brand manager of Veuve Clicquot, and Carol Bouwer, CEO of Carol Bouwer Productions.

Winners

Melody Xaba, who won in the corporate category, is the executive producer for The Morning Show on e.tv. A leader in the workspace for over eight years, she has worked as a producer for shows like Jam Alley and Club608, to name a few. Her claim to fame is conceptualising Mzansi Magic’s Our Perfect Wedding, born out of her own wedding experience.

Dr Pretorius, who won in the entrepreneur category, is the founder and product formulator of a well-known cosmeceutical company Biomedical Emporium. Her passion for the industry as well as empowering women has led her to become a respected name in the industry, and she was recently awarded the Standard Bank Top Women in Science Award.

Dr Judey Pretorius was also named overall winner, taking with her the opportunity of a feature in Elle South Africa as well as a trip to the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Maison in 2019 hosted by Veuve Clicquot in Reims, France, inclusive of flights, accommodation and a daily allowance.

Runner-up Melody Xaba received a special Veuve Clicquot Experience, which will include a private dinner for her and five guests.

The further four runners-up were each gifted with a magnum bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and all women now have a significant platform of exposure to a network of equally powerful women – both locally and from around the world.

Vital agent for change

The public recognition of women through platforms like the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Elle Boss Award is such a vital agent for change that Dhlomo promises the awards will return for its fifth year in 2019.

If you’re a successful businesswoman who empowers, supports and encourages female creativity and leadership – or you know someone who does – diarise August 2019, when nominations for the next awards open here.