Cheers to the Los Angeles Awards Season… which runs all year long in this city that knows how to toast to the very best in art, culture, and style.
On Sunday night, the much-anticipated first annual Gurus 2024 Awards, presented by Gurus Magazine and hosted by founder and publisher, Derek Warburton and executive produced by Rachel Wilson, unfolded in Los Angeles — celebrating all things beauty, wellness, authentic living… and dramatic red carpet looks.
This landmark event honored trailblazers who reshape readers’ perceptions of beauty and wellness by prioritizing transparency, passion, and purpose.
Held at the luxurious SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills, the evening brought together a distinguished lineup of VIP guests and honorees that embody the essence of what it means to be a “guru” in their respective fields.
These superstars of wellness, entertainment, fashion, and philanthropy included Niecy Nash-Betts and her wife Jessica Betts, Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta)), Katie Ginella and daughter Kai (Real Housewives of Orange County), Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband Shaman Durek Verrett, Shanola Hampton (NBC’s Found), Lisa Vidal (Being Mary Jane), Margie Plus and her husband Harald Austad (MTV West Coast Hustle), Gleb Savchenko (DWTS), and prominent Selling Sunset stars Mary and Romain Bonnet.
Guests walked a black-on-black step-and-repeat press line before making their way through the immersive Parisian-inspired setting reminiscent of Emily in Paris, champagne in hand. But not to worry fans of Emily’s new life in Rome, the event also featured a nod to Italy with Lauren Falcione’s The Blonde Italian installation.
The evening kicked off with complimentary champagne and a premium open bar, creating a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere.
The event featured an array of unique installations and interactive activations that added depth to the evening’s ambiance. Lauren Falcione’s The Blonde Italian installation, Freshy Shoes, led by Scott Willman, with live painting by artist Joey DeRuy, while Deborah Sawaf’s The Power of Words installation invited guests to reflect on the significance of language and expression. The Alexis Project, overseen by Billy Ray Brewton, offered a meaningful look into diversity, equity, and inclusion in health. Plus, Londubh Studio created custom backdrops for the VIP section.
For those wanting a keepsake from the evening, award-winning photographer Josh Fogel set up his Luxury in Style Photo Studio along with a gallery of some of his recent works. Meanwhile, Marley Majcher, also known as The Party Goddess, transported attendees to Paris with a charming street scene complete with a custom bouquet boutique that created floral arrangements for each guest.
The Parisian-inspired setup also included a decadent patisserie by Bottega Louie, to complement the ambiance. Other standout sponsors included Bentley of Beverly Hills, Ogara, Golden Eagle Vodka and Filmcraft Studio Gear adding an extra touch of luxury to the night’s festivities.
As part of the evening’s awards presentation, the following honors were celebrated:
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Shanola Hampton (NBC’s Found) presented Jennifer Howell (The Art of Elysium) with the Humanitarian Visionary Award.
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Lisa Vidal (Being Mary Jane) presented Nancy Davis (Humanitarian) with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Niecy Nash-Betts (Actress) and Jessica Betts (Recording Artist) presented Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett with an honorary award.
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Katie Ginella (Real Housewives of Orange County) presented Mara Dorne (Speaker) with the Empowerment Trailblazer of the Year Award.
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Gleb Savchenko (Dancing With The Stars) presented Michael Lukacs (Entrepreneur) with the Business Visionary Award.
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Marcel Vigneron (24 in 24: Last Chef Standing) presented Lauren Falcione (Entrepreneur) with Culinary Entrepreneur of the Year.
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Robyn Newmark (Hollywood Beauty Guru) and Kathleen Francesca (Entrepreneur) recapped the Wellness & Beauty Awards.
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Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta) presented Dr. Michael Newman (Plastic Surgeon) with the Innovation in Surgery Award.
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Mary and Romain Bonnet (Selling Sunset) presented Kathleen Francesca (Entrepreneur) with the Wellness Entrepreneur of the Year.
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Nicholas Pritzker (Investor) presented Dr. Astrid Heger (The Alexis Project) with the Health Vanguard of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion award.
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Dr. Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper) was presented with the Social Media Star of the Year Award and sent a video acceptance.
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Patrik Simpson and Pol’ Atteu (Amazon’s Gown & Out) presented Josh Fogel (Photographer) with the Lens of Inclusion Award.
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Beauty Awards:
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Best in Hair: Saints & Sinners Haircare
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Best of Clean: Corsica Scents
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Best of Sustainability: True Botanicals
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Best of Skin: AlumierMD
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Best in Tech & Tools: Skin Wand Pro
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Best in Design: Neon Hippie
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Best in the Business: Joel Sebastian
Guests received an exclusive gift bag filled with luxury items from renowned brands including Grande Lash Cosmetics, O Hui, Kevin Murphy, Purlisse, Saints & Sinners, Peter Thomas Roth, Skin Wand Pro, Dr. Groot, Golden Eagle Vodka, Yensa, The Blonde Italian aprons, and Freshy products.
As always, it’s a heartfelt team that puts these events together. Shout out to Executive Producer Rachel Wilson and Producer Kent Burns, whose leadership and vision brought everything together seamlessly, Marley Majcher, the team at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills, Kent Speakman of KenktTV, Andy Orellana and his team from Kappa, publicist Marisa Hebert, Laura Pucker, Tiffany Young, Benjamin Shepard and the Gurus boys, Michael Howell, Louis Ng, Tamalili Campbell, Drew McVey, Jeff Violletta, James Barranca, and Jace Dominique, photographers Dimitri Halkidis and Robin Marshall, Jace Dominique, Glen Allen, Bong Buan, Gurus Beauty Award winner Joel Sebastian for hair and makeup, and DJ Greg Cerrone.