Its the 4th Edition of the Tribe and Elan Recognition Award.

As the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle continues to evolve, so does the creativity, innovation, and passion of the brands and individuals shaping these industries.

The Tribe and Elan Recognition Awards 2025 returns to honor the trailblazers, the trendsetters, and the visionaries who have redefined style, self-expression, and sophistication over the previous year.

This year’s awards showcase a dynamic mix of recurring favorites—brands that have consistently set the benchmark for excellence—alongside exciting new entrants who are making waves with their fresh perspectives and groundbreaking contributions.

From timeless elegance to bold, boundary-pushing creativity, the 2025 award winners reflect the vibrant diversity and relentless innovation that define these ever-changing industries. Join us as we celebrate the achievements of those who inspire, influence, and elevate the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

The eagerly awaited GTCO Fashion Weekend has once again proven to be Africa’s foremost fashion event. This year’s showcase was a masterclass in elegance, ingenuity, and style, presenting the pinnacle of African fashion to a global audience.”

The event united distinguished designers, models, and fashion aficionados from all over the continent and beyond. The runway showcased breathtaking collections from leading designers such as Tolu Coker, Oríré, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Xu Zhi, Ituen Basi, and Romeo Hunte, among others.”

GTCO Fashion Weekend created an opportunity for up-and-coming designers to present their work alongside well-established brands. The event’s dedication to fostering new talent was showcased through the remarkable demonstrations of creativity and expertise.”

Renowned industry figures such as Sheika Daley, Patricia Bright, Lulu Kennedy, and Ted Gibson imparted their valuable knowledge and expertise.”

GTCO Fashion Weekend has firmly established itself as a key driver in the growth and evolution of African fashion. By offering designers a platform to display their creations, the event has significantly bridged the gap between African fashion and the international market.”

“As anticipation builds for next year’s event, it’s undeniable that GTCO Fashion Weekend has established itself as the benchmark for fashion extravaganzas in Africa.”

Rebecca Ruona Olotu, known as Ruona, has taken her passion for makeup artistry and transformed it into Kymarle Beauty, a mobile makeup studio that is revolutionising the beauty industry.

Ruona’s journey began in the halls of Nottingham Trent University in the UK, where she studied law. While she meticulously honed her legal skills, her heart was drawn to a different calling: the world of makeup.

What started as a pastime watching countless YouTube tutorials and experimenting on herself and friends soon blossomed into a serious pursuit.

By 2018, Ruona embraced her creative side, becoming a freelance makeup artist with a mission: to enhance natural beauty using minimal products.

The turning point in her career came when she attended a masterclass in Lagos led by the renowned celebrity makeup artist King Mali Magic. Inspired by Mali’s “Dewy Brown Girl Project,” Ruona began to advocate for the representation of women of color in the beauty realm, empowering them to celebrate their luminous skin.

Ruona conceptualised the Kymarle Beauty Mobile Studio a luxurious vanity housed inside a truck.

Launched on June 12, 2022, the innovative service brings a fully equipped beauty studio to clients’ doorsteps, making it perfect for weddings, music video shoots, Nollywood sets, and more.

Ruona’s multifaceted talents extend beyond beauty. After graduating in 2014, she stepped into the music scene with her debut EP and later formed the girl group Rcube with her sister and cousin, both notable performers in Nigeria.

Their vibrant performances at major events like “Industry Night” and “Felabration” solidified their presence in the music industry.

Ruona also pursued a legal career, becoming a qualified lawyer in 2018. She has contributed significantly to the Presidential Amnesty Program, focusing on empowering communities in the Niger Delta region.

Her creativity knows no bounds; in addition to her mobile makeup services, Ruona has ventured into special effects makeup for Halloween events and has provided free makeovers for charity, embodying her commitment to giving back to the community.