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Nothing else is deemed important,’ Max says. ‘Normally, businesses are rated in terms of fast growth and high turnover. They’re a glamorous bunch, but Karen and Max’s hearts really lie with the less high-profile cases who may not be the next Elon Musks but have still chased an entrepreneurial dream and achieved control of their lives. There’s swimwear designer Melissa Odabash, whose bikinis are beloved by celebrities including Beyonce and the Duchess of Cambridge, and hugely influential MOBO Awards founder Kanya King, who built her multi-million-pound fortune starting as a single mother at the age of 16. Or handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, who has an estimated net worth of £15million. Think Charlotte Tilbury who, in 2020, sold her cosmetics business for £1.3billion, or perfumer Jo Malone who sold her eponymous business to Estee Lauder for ‘undisclosed millions’ before launching her Jo Loves line.
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The previous year’s winner was Rachel Watkyn, founder of eco-packaging group Tiny Box, who overcame a childhood with abusive and neglectful parents that led to her being put into care ill health including a brush with breast cancer a hacked website floods and a warehouse fire that saw her lose £10,000 worth of stock. ‘And this was during a pandemic,’ adds Maxine (or Max, as she’s always known). Having raised £130,000 from family and friends, in four years Brie had a turnover of £45million, with two million customers in 90 countries. Not too much to ask, surely, but as Brie, 40, discovered, ‘Everybody was the same - whatever their shape, tights didn’t fit.’ We always think “We’re not going to be able to top this” and then the following year we do.’ Take last year’s Everywoman Woman of the Year, Brie Read, chief executive of hosiery firm Snag Group, who founded her company because she wanted tights that were the right size. ‘Every year there are tears in the room as we hear how much these women have overcome. ‘They’re just jaw-dropping,’ Karen exclaims. Eyes starry, Maxine Benson and Karen Gill are reminiscing about their Everywoman Awards, which, for the past 20 years, have celebrated female entrepreneurs with extraordinary stories to tell.