Milan celebrates leaders of change at the 2025 Black Carpet Awards A special edition marking ten years of the Afro Fashion Association
Last night, within the setting of the Teatro Manzoni in Milan, the third edition of the Black Carpet Awards took place, an event that confirms its relevance in the calendar of Milan Fashion Week Women’s. Sponsored by the Municipality of Milan, the ceremony conceived by the Afro Fashion Association is an act of recognition towards the visionaries who have been able to make an impact, with commitment, in the fields of diversity, inclusion and equity. This year’s edition carried even greater symbolic value, as it coincides with the ten-year anniversary of the association founded by Michelle Francine Ngonmo. In her opening speech, Michelle Francine Ngonmo reaffirmed the profound meaning of the event: the Black Carpet Awards are an act of building and resistance, a stage for those who have long remained invisible and now finally find space and voice. «Representation generates access», she declared, highlighting the importance of transforming differences into a collective strength.
Making the evening even more special was the video message from Naomi Campbell, exceptional patron, global icon and tireless activist for representation and inclusion. Hosting duties were entrusted to Tamu McPherson, creative and founder of Shoe Up for Justice, while the beating heart of the event was the announcement of the ten Leaders of Change winners, selected from among twenty-two finalists. The 2025 One-Time Award held a particularly emotional value, being dedicated to the memory of Koyo Kouoh, a visionary curator who left an indelible mark in the enhancement of African and diasporic art. The winner was Janine Gaëlle Dieudji, for her work in subverting established narratives and giving centrality to Afro-descendant culture.
On stage, the winners of the five main categories took turns: Nogaye Ndiaye and Mariam Battistelli for Culture, Rediet Longo and Augusta Carter for Creativity, Aya Mohamed and Ronke Oluwadare for Community, Antonio Dikele Distefano together with Caterina Monda & Debrina Aliyah for Entrepreneurship, and finally Igiaba Scego and Leandra Medeiros Cerezo for Legacy. Different stories and paths, united by the urgency to generate change and the desire to open new possibilities. The jury, made up of a parterre of international professionals such as Afef Jnifen, Stella Jean, IB Kamara, Honey Dijon, Edward Buchanan, Carlo Capasa and Marco Bizzarri, reinforced the global and transversal dimension of the award. In this new edition, the Black Carpet Awards offered a space to celebrate those who want to build a new system, more accessible, more inclusive. For the tenth year, the Afro Fashion Association brings to the stage a political and cultural statement: fashion can become a tool for tangible change.
