The 21st Annual GQ Awards took place this week at the Tate modern. This glamourous event honors leading figures who help shape culture in the political, style, sports and entertainment worlds. Naomi Campbell, Rose McGowan and David Lammy were the nights’ big winners.
Fashion Rebel and Supermodel legend Naomi Campbell was named fashion icon of the year presented by actress and singer Zendaya. With a career stretching over 3 three decades, her influence and impact reaches far beyond the catwalk. Naomi has used her platform as one of the worlds most renowned models becoming an activist founding a charity in Brazil which fights poverty by raising funds through the sale of fabric of local fabric as well as raising awareness to breast cancer and acting as an ambassador of goodwill for the White Ribbon Alliance for safe motherhood.
The 48 Year old International Super Model arrived at the awards holding hands with 28 year old Afrobeats sensation Wizkid. The pair have been seen together at a number of events together this year including his concert at the O2 arena in May and in June together the pair walked the catwalk for fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana.
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman also won International Man of the Year Prize presented to him by co-star Chris Hemsworth from the Avengers. The film Black Panther took $1.3 billion at box office, the ninth highest grossing film of all time contending with outdated ideas of successful filmmaking in Hollywood with an important to the generation that they too can be superheroes.
Daniel Kaluuya from Get out took home Actor of the Year which was present by director Steve McQueen. Whilst in his twenties this talented man has already been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar award alongside megastars Denzel Washington, Daniel Day-Lewis and Gary Oldman. His horrified wide-eyed performance both profound and subtle in Get Out did not put him out of place for such an award and to top it all off he still found the time to star in hit indie film Black Panther alongside Chadwick Boseman.
Chrissy Teigen presented her husband John Legend with the Hugo Boss most Stylish man prize. He told GQ that the best style advice he has is to “listen to your wife”.
MP David Lammy took Politician of the year home. An award given previously to the likes of George Osborne and Boris Johnson previously. The Backbench Tottenham MP made the people’s voice count this year with his Trafalgar square speech challenging Theresa May over the Windrush scandal where the government wrongly marked thousands for deportation; decrying it as a “national day of shame” for the country. He has also fought tirelessly campaigning for justice for the people tragically affected by the Grenfell fire.
GQ Editor’s Lifetime Achievement was awarded to The Prince of Wales for Services to Philanthropy by Dylan Jones.
Jorja Smith received a message from Drake after he heard her for the first time. Looks like he knew 2 years before she even had a record out what we all know now. At 21 Jorja is the winner of the Brit Critics Choice Award 2018 and also a nominee for the Mercury Prize. She is now the winner of the Vero Breakthrough Solo Artist via GQ with a charity donation of $50’000 given via Vero’s “Donate Now” initiative.
Leading activist in the Time’s Up campaign Rose McGowan is the only woman to have received the Inspiration Award. She was one of the first women to speak out about Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual abuse and misconduct. On receiving her award she said “I have always felt emotionally I was a bit more like a man, at least a stereotypical man and I feel like I am a man that’s growing and I feel like I am neither woman nor man and it fits perfectly with this year. “The Weight is very heavy. It’s been a fight. Its been a fight every goddamed day. Some fights, and justice, that’s worth it”.
Elisabeth Moss star of The Handmaids’s Tale was given the television actor of the year prize awarded to her by Top of the Lake co-star Gwendoline Christine.
Song writer of the year went to Paul Weller awarded by Mary McCartney and Donatella Versace collected her award from model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor Luke Evans for Designer of the Year.
Design legend of the year was awarded to Ralph Lauren and Phillip Plein won brand of the year. Breakthrough designer of the year was given to Charles Jeffrey and musicians Dua Lipa and Olly Alexander received awards for solo artist and live acts respectively.
The Haig Club Icon prize was handed to Jeff Goldblum by his Thor: Ragnarok co-star Tom Hiddleston whilst author of Fire and Fury Michael Wolff received writer of the year.
Additional prices throughout the evening included the Editors Special Award given to Sacha Baron Cohen and Tom Bateman was named Hugo Boss Breakthrough actor. Baroness Doreen Lawrence also attended the event to present the Gallery Artist of the Year award to Yeo Maddox.