Global Citizen Award Gala 2023

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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors and Guests

Thanks to the generous support of our partners, the 2023 Global Citizen Award Gala was an unforgettable evening of celebration.

Our generous sponsors' and guests' commitment to excellence and community engagement played a pivotal role in aligning with our mission to recognize a remarkable individual who has made substantial contributions in the entrepreneurial world.

The gala as further enhanced by our extraordinary emcee Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, the amazing performance of singer Liza Yohannes, along with Nicolò Filippo Rosso's hauntingly beautiful photo exhibition.

Together, we celebrated the exceptional Winnie Harlow, whose extraordinary talent, unwavering determination, and passionate advocacy for equity and inclusion in business and fashion have captured the world’s attention. Our partners added immeasurable value to this celebration.

Born to Jamaican parents and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Winnie Harlow is one of the world’s most sought-after supermodels, beauty entrepreneurs and on-screen talents, hailed by Vogue as “one of the most recognized faces on the international fashion scene.” After being diagnosed with vitiligo at the age of 4, Harlow took her experiences with childhood bullying as a calling to showcase to the world the diversity of beauty.

She has since graced the covers of international editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and more. She has walked in shows for Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Coach and participated in campaigns for well-known brands such as Fendi, Bulgari, Dior, Armani Beauty, Tommy Hilfiger, and many more. Winnie is the first-ever global ambassador for Paul Mitchell and has partnered with major brands including Puma, Maybelline, Smartwater, Cîroc, and more. She’s also released capsule collections with KKW and Steve Madden in a campaign that was shot by legendary photographer Steven Klein. In addition to modeling, she has made on-screen appearances as a season judge on Amazon Prime’s series Making the Cut, alongside Heidi Klum and Jeremy Scott and in several music videos including Beyoncé’s “Lemonade.”

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Winnie embarked on her most recent endeavor with her skincare brand Cay Skin after experiencing a severe sunburn during a beach shoot that damaged her vitiligo. Launched in April 2022, Cay Skin prides itself on its look-good/feel-good formulas that preach inclusivity as the products blend into all skin tones, types, and conditions. The brand has been a massive success in its first year, receiving praise from outlets such as ELLE, Allure, Essence, Vanity Fair, and Forbes. It is sold exclusively on CaySkin.com and at Sephora across Canada and the United States. Harlow is one of only 12 women of color to receive funding in excess of $1M as a Founder and aims to raise voices and awareness for other female founders of color through the success of Cay Skin. Harlow raised an impressive $4.1 million to launch the brand.