{"id":481244,"date":"2026-06-17T03:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T03:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/481244\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T03:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T03:44:13","slug":"every-glittering-highlight-from-our-inaugural-viva-beauty-awards-gala-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/481244\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Glittering Highlight From Our Inaugural Viva Beauty Awards Gala 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Viva Beauty Awards Gala was a sparkling celebration of local and global beauty, filled with the best and brightest from across the industry. Here is your behind-the-scenes look at all the action from the night. <\/p>\n

\n Last Tuesday, avant-garde rooftop bar Hi-SO was transformed into a sparkling celebration
\n of the best in beauty for the inaugural Viva Beauty Awards Gala, presented by Glow Lab.\n <\/p>\n

For the first time in years, brand founders, content creators, beauty PRs and influencers gathered under one roof for an opportunity to network and celebrate the talent and innovation that cements New Zealand\u2019s reputation for creating world-class wellness and beauty products. <\/p>\n

Despite the Viva Beauty Awards launching three years ago, this was the first time Viva hosted a Gala-style event to announce its winners in front of key tastemakers and industry leads. <\/p>\n

\"SarahSarah Reid and Isa Varga. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

Hosted by ZM day show host Georgia Burt, the vibes were high as guests filed into Hi-SO, the luxury-meets-quirky rooftop bar which occupies SO\/ Auckland\u2019s 16th floor. Sculptural floral arrangements, created by Isadia, complemented the bar\u2019s aesthetic,with blooming banksia, orchids, dahlias and ranunculus. <\/p>\n

The guest list included pioneering skincare founder Emma Lewisham, hairstylist turned entrepreneur Chloe Zara Munro, holistic skin expert Ashleigh Scott, lymphatic massage specialist Nicky Watkins and many more. Attendees even flew across the country to be there, including Kristen Teo, the founder of The Spa Nomad NZ and Numa Skin and Body Club from Wellington, and Kasia Stanicich, a freelance makeup artist and content creator from Christchurch. <\/p>\n

\"GuestsGuests enjoy a cocktail at the Glow Lab bar. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

A handful of content creators had been spotted earlier at Viva\u2019s Styling Suite, an immersive beauty experience spanning body care, makeup, hair and wellness. <\/p>\n

The experience began with makeup appointments courtesy of M.A.C, wine tastings with The Uncommon, a dry hairstyling bar with Beautiful Environment (Davines Ltd), and mini wellness consults with Lifestream. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe Glow Lab bar was decked out with scents from the brand’s new Creamy Body Wash range. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

Back at the Gala, guests were invited to visit the Glow Lab bar, where mixologist Hollie Wright created four bespoke cocktails inspired by the scents in the new Glow Lab Creamy Body Wash range. The four indulgent scents – Oat Milk & Manuka Honey, Salted Caramel & Pistachio, Cashmere & White Blossom and Coconut & Vanilla Bean \u2013 were translated into a Chocolate & Pistachio Martini, a Coconut Hi-Coco Spritz, a Waiheke Honey Rye Whiskey with a twist, and a Lychee and Yuzu Sour. <\/p>\n

For those who preferred wine, The Uncommon had three of its canned wine varietals on offer \u2013 a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and Pinot Noir. <\/p>\n

\"MCMC and ZM day host, Georgia Burt. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

The awards presentation began with the people-focused categories, including big name awards like the Breakthrough Brand Of The Year, presented by Pure Mama; Sustainability Award, presented by ECOYA; Innovation Award, presented by Lifestream; and Hairstylist Of The Year Award, presented by Beautiful Environment (Davines Ltd). <\/p>\n

Next came the product categories \u2013 spanning makeup, skin care, hair care, body care, fragrance, and wellbeing \u2013 including new additions like Best For Acneand Best For Curls Or Coils. <\/p>\n

\"VivaViva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

The winners included Emma Lewisham, who took home four awards, including Brand Founder Of The Year, New Zealand Beauty Brand Of The Year, Best For Mature Skin and Best For Overnight. <\/p>\n

Despite having recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Texas, Pure Mama CEO Lara Henderson was there to receive the Innovation Award for the brand\u2019s new Complex Scar Serum. <\/p>\n

Freelance special occasion and bridal makeup artist Kasia Stanicich flew up from Christchurch to receive the Makeup Artist Of The Year Award. <\/p>\n

Kelly Manu, who also sat on the Viva Beauty Awards judging panel (but was exempt from self-nominating or voting in her category), took out the top prize for Hairstylist Of The Year. <\/p>\n

However, the loudest shrieks of glee came from The Whitening Co. team when founder Kennedy Anderson was announced as the People\u2019s Choice Award winner. <\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

With the formalities over, guests continued to mingle and imbibe, soaking up the panoramic views of the Waitemat\u0101 Harbour out on the deck or refreshing their drink at the bar. <\/p>\n

As the night wound to a close, guests were gifted their very own Viva Beauty Awards goodie bag, filled to the brim with the latest beauty and wellness treats, including full-sized products and samples from Glow Lab, Davines, Lifestream, Pure Mama, ECOYA and Two Islands. <\/p>\n

To everyone who sat on the judging panel, nominated, voted or won an award, thank you for making this year\u2019s Viva Beauty Awards such a success. See you next year! <\/p>\n

Check out the full gallery of party pics, below. <\/p>\n

Arrivals<\/p>\n

\"ReneeRenee Brown and Steph Wood. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KennedyKennedy Anderson, Oliver Tyack, Tess Woolcock, Annemarie Mason and Ineke Pronk. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JanelleJanelle Brunton-Rennie, Brooke Lean and Renee Hohaia. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"RachelRachel Soo Thow and Aki Curtis. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"GabrielleGabrielle Houghton, Kasia Stanicich, Chloe Zara and Mary Outram. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"MadeleineMadeleine Crutchley and Ashleigh Cometti. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"SarahSarah Reid, Kristen Teo and Isa Varga. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"CharlotteCharlotte Laville, Imogen Sutcliffe and Greer Holford. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"AshleighAshleigh Scott and Scott Glack. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"IzzyIzzy and Michele Jans. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"StephanieStephanie Stewart and Gemma Vovchenko. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TheThe Beautiful Environment team. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"GeorgiaGeorgia Burt, Gemma Vovchenko, Stephanie Stewart and Kat Blackburn. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"VarshaVarsha Reddy. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"MhairiMhairi Bryan, Grace Connew and Anna Lawson. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"RylandRyland Wood and Danny Pato. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JuliaJulia Juhasz. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TessaTessa Stockdale, Karen Stockdale and Helena Nuich. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"BiankaBianka Dalton. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"YasminYasmin Shepherd, Maggie Kidd, Abbey Gilfoyle, Lara Henderson and Jess Dudson. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"InekeIneke Pronk and Annemarie Mason. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"RenaiRenai Hagstrom, Greer Bland, Michael Mendel, Ellie Jarvis, Lexie Galloway and Klara Allen. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TatumTatum Savage and Sarah Reid. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TallulahTallulah McLean and Brendon Vailahi. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TauTau Subritzky and Sean Mahoney. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JakeJake and Francesca Pagnuzzi. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"SherestaSheresta Dewan and Krystle Wallace. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"IsaIsa Varga and Kirsten Teo. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"SamanthaSamantha Herewini and Esther Cunningham. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"InekeIneke Pronk, Annemarie Mason and Tess Woolcock. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TroiTroi Atkins and Chloe Hulme. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"NatashaNatasha Bourke, Isabelle Suter, Angie Montgomery, Foster Hanitijo and Catrina Sewell. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"MichaelMichael Mendel. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"AnnaAnna Farrera, Bridget Taylor and Lauren Went. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"PetrinaPetrina Morgan and Vikki Dong. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"NickyNicky Watkins and Angelique Fris-Taylor. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"HayleyHayley Carville, Hamish Mullan and Sandy Kilgour. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JuliaJulia Juhasz and Leandi van der Walt. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"ImogenImogen Duff, Samantha Mills, Kyla Packer and Hannah Corbett. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"SamSam and Ashleigh Cometti. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"RenaiRenai Hagstrom, Greer Bland, Ellie Jarvis, Lexie Galloway and Klara Allen. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"DenniDenni and Stacey Fraser. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"NikitaNikita Chaithoo and Kylee De Thier. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"ReynaldoReynaldo Saludares, Rachel Dunn, Stella Wang and Ava Wardecki. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KateKate Grant, Angelina Ashcroft and Jayne Henry. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KennedyKennedy Anderson and Oliver Tyack. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KateKate Smith, Caroline Springhall, Claire Barnes and Bevan Tonks. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

Winners<\/p>\n

\"EmmaEmma Lewisham. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"DanielleDanielle Lagos. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KellyKelly Manu. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"BiankaBianka Dalton. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"FrancescaFrancesca Pagnuzzi. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"ImogenImogen Sutcliffe. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"CharlotteCharlotte Laville. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JayneJayne Henry, Angelina Ashcroft and Kate Grant. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TanyaTanya Pene. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"KasiaKasia Stanicich and Danielle Lagos. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"MichaelMichael Mendel. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JackieJackie Ashley. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TheThe Glow Lab team. lPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"NickyNicky Shore. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"ClaireClaire Barnes. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"AnnemarieAnnemarie Mason. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"OliverOliver Tyack and Kennedy Anderson. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"EmmaEmma Lewisham and Becca Haegar. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"RenaiRenai Hagstrom. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"TheThe Pop Publicity team. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"AshleighAshleigh Scott. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"JuliaJulia Juhasz, Leandi van der Walt and Amanda Vela. Photo \/ Babiche Martens\"GraceGrace Connew and Anna Lawson. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

Highlights <\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens\"PhotoPhoto \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

More Viva Beauty Awards 2026<\/p>\n

Meet all the winners from this year\u2019s Viva Beauty Awards 2026; go behind-the-scenes with our judging panel; and learn about other leading brands who took out the top prizes below. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Viva Beauty Awards Gala was a sparkling celebration of local and global beauty, filled with the best…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":481245,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2246,2840,432,10779,1244,37634,3390,23738,9063,156,14768,38115,71,56682,147949,1437,191,17827,76912,2454,440,13457,111,139,2551,69,22213,26655,159,102,1959],"class_list":["post-481244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-2246","tag-across","tag-action","tag-awards","tag-beauty","tag-behindthescenes","tag-best","tag-brightest","tag-celebration","tag-entertainment","tag-every","tag-filled","tag-from","tag-gala","tag-glittering","tag-global","tag-here","tag-highlight","tag-inaugural","tag-industry","tag-local","tag-look","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-night","tag-nz","tag-our","tag-sparkling","tag-viva","tag-with","tag-your"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=481244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/481245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=481244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=481244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=481244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}