On March 20, 2024, the century-old Italian fashion house CURIEL, in collaboration with "Tatler," inaugurated the first "Her Blooming Night" awards ceremony at the Regent Shanghai Hotel in China. This grand event was held to honor twelve outstanding young women across six artistic domains: theater, dance, art, film, music, and fashion. Nearly a hundred elite women from various fields gathered to witness this remarkable occasion, celebrating the inspiration that art brings to the world of fashion.
For over a century, CURIEL, under the leadership of four generations of women, has consistently dedicated itself to inspiring top talents across various artistic fields in global culture, providing them with a platform to connect with one another. Staying true to its heritage, the CURIEL x Tatler "Her Blooming Night" awards ceremony is committed to supporting the new generation of women in diverse artistic domains, offering them a stage to connect with each other and flourish in their own right.
The event also showcased three precious archival haute couture pieces and three latest haute couture creations from CURIEL's Fall/Winter 2024 collection. Its century-long history is a narrative of women, heritage, and honor. From crafting opera costumes for Milan's La Scala Theatre to a lifelong friendship with Italian ballet icon Carla Fracci, and being awarded Italy's highest honor, the "Cavaliere del Gran Croce," for its artistic haute couture, CURIEL's hundred-year journey has consistently been propelled by a passion for beauty and creativity.
By expressing gratitude and support for women who are equally driven by a passion for creation, recognizing their achievements, and bestowing upon them the honors they deserve, CURIEL contributes to the advancement of women and societal progress. The twelve award-winning women are all leaders in their respective fields, brimming with creativity and passion, and embodying both elegance and vitality.
The Charm of Fashion Award was bestowed upon Ms. Koki, an international rising star in the modeling world. She has swiftly captured the global spotlight with her nascent presence on the fashion stage. She blossoms before the cinematic lens, matures through her philanthropic endeavors, seeks expression through art, and radiates warmth back into society. True to her name, she illuminates the path ahead with her own light, bringing hope to those who walk alongside her.
The Dance Grace Award was conferred upon Ms. Tan Yimei, the rising star of the Magnolia Drama Awards. With her body as the brush, she paints intricate tales of affection and loyalty on stage; with herself as the medium, she leaps into the modern essence within stories. Whether it's the passionate love and hate in a world of illusions or the celestial beauty of the moonlit palace, she dances every piece with sincerity and fervor; she harmonizes with every melody with steady grace. The "Peach and Plum Blossom Cup," the "Lotus Award," "Early Spring February," and "The Ninth Year of Yonghe" are all milestones in her journey. She moves forward without pause, securing the Best New Performer award at the 2023 Magnolia Drama Awards. Yet, this is just the beginning, as the dance breeze that belongs to her is gently arriving.
The Dance Innovation Award was awarded to Ms. Hao Ruoqi, the "Mulan" who transitions from classical to modern. She is the enchanting Imperial Consort and also the General Mulan. Whether it's the contemporary "Snow in Spring Garden," the timeless "Kangtuga," the sword-wielding "Madame Gongsun," or the Mongolian girl in "Marco Polo," her interpretations are nothing short of perfection. Merging with her characters and becoming one with the stories, she is both the role and herself. A storm dancer in the national trend, she breaks boundaries from classical to modern; from the classroom to life, her pursuit of progress never ceases. After turning thirty, she is ready to push open that door to embrace a broader, more vibrant future.
The Dance Leap Award was granted to Ms. Tan Yiling, China's first World Modern Dance Champion. Her dance moves fuse body and soul, transcend language and borders, and encapsulate both achievement and aspiration. Like a sudden storm, swift as lightning, graceful as a swimming dragon, and startling as a swan in flight, only those who have witnessed her quickstep can comprehend the sheer power that dance can embody. As "China's first World Modern Dance Champion," a "double gold medalist at the Asian Games," and the "only Asian dancer invited to the World Stars Performance Gala," her accolades are numerous, and her accomplishments are widely recognized. Her dance is a blend of physicality and spirit, surpassing linguistic and national boundaries, and crystallizing both gains and desires. Watch as she leaps forward, blooming brilliantly.
The Film and Television Aspiration Award was awarded to director Ms. Cao Yinuo, who has shone brightly at the China-Europe Youth Film Festival and the FIRST International Film Festival. In the silent villages and the imagined tunnels, she roams through the gazes of space; in the whispers of her father's words and the guardianship of her sisters, she seeks within the murmurs of familial love. Her directed and scripted short film "Outing" won the Best Feature Film at the China-Europe Youth Film Festival, and "Forever Free" received the Short Frame Recommendation Honor at the 17th FIRST International Film Festival's FIRST FRAME section. She strives to understand yet yearns to break free, she pursues connections yet longs for liberty. She defines herself as "the happiest child in the world" and aspires to become a true "creator." Her cinematic journey has only just begun.
The Film and Television Breakthrough Award was awarded to Ms. Huang Miyi, Best Supporting Actress at the 36th Golden Rooster Awards. A thousand faces converge in one, yet the most genuine is her identity as an actress. She is the Best Actress of the Fei Mu Honor at the 5th Pingyao International Film Festival and also the Best Supporting Actress at the 36th Golden Rooster Awards. To feel, to experience, to take risks, to discover, always flowing, always present. Writing poetry, painting, singing, feeling the breeze, drawing nourishment from the world, bringing a glimmer of light to the lens, any moment she is ready is a moment of blooming. As the movie ends, beyond Yong'an Town, in her future, anything can happen.
The Spotlight Actor Award was awarded to Lü Xingchen, Best Actress at the Pingyao International Film Festival. Spanning all directions, cutting through the essence of eras, she grows upward with all her might, accumulating hope without limits. With her debut, she won the Best Actress award at the Shanghai International Film Festival's Golden Goblet Awards, and after a decade of honing her craft, she received the Fei Mu Honor Best Actress Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival. Spanning all directions, cutting through the essence of eras, from a carefree young girl to a woman tempered by life, diverse roles share the same resilience. Off-screen, she quiets the waves of life, storing emotions to bloom in films. Within the lens, she grows upward with all her might, accumulating hope without limits. Soaring above the clouds, bearing the sky, riding the whirlwind, this is Xu Lingling, and even more so, Lü Xingchen.
The Art Exploration Award was awarded to young artist Ms. Zhang Zipiao. In her works, there are no rigid brushstrokes, no over-the-top "interpretations"; under her brush, there are no colors that pander to trends, nor contours that condescend. Faced with misunderstandings, she smiles with composure; faced with skepticism, she responds with equanimity. She steadfastly maintains her integrity amidst the ever-changing market currents and remains diligent amidst a myriad of temptations. Love is embraced openly, and pain is depicted with vivid beauty. The essence of life and the nuances of the world are borne by her ink and colors, constructed with flesh and blood; stepping onto the blank canvas, she reveals her true self through her brush.
The Music Excellence Award was awarded to Ms. Yin Zhi, a Steinway Artist. She began learning the piano at the age of six, and in the thirty years that have followed, her passion has never waned. As a Steinway Artist and a faculty member at the Central Conservatory of Music, she was the sole invited performer at the China Philharmonic Orchestra's 2022 New Year's Concert. Between the black and white keys, she listens to echoes from classical to modern; amidst the rises and falls, she performs the splendors of the world and the nation. The changing seasons, the upheavals of fate, the deep currents of history, and the romance of nature all resonate anew through her fingertips with the timeless music masters. On this March night, the lights play a song of the skylark in her honor.
The Music Heritage Award was awarded to Ms. Liu Wenwen, China's first suona doctorate holder. As a descendant of a suona family, China's first suona doctorate, and a featured soloist at the Sydney Opera House's New Year Symphony Concert, these titles do not fully capture her essence. With a rich family heritage and academic lineage, paired with piano accompaniment or jazz styles, she becomes one with the suona, a marvel in the music world and a queen among instruments. In her elegant gowns, with both Eastern and Western ensembles, and audiences from around the globe, she commands the stage with mastery. She boldly experiments with the suona's crossover potential and steadfastly advances the art of traditional Chinese music. Her stage points to even more dazzling horizons.
The Theater Heritage Award was awarded to Ms. Qian Yuting, a young Kunqu Opera actress. With profound skill and a breath free of worldly smoke, her singing captivates and intoxicates; with a heroic and spirited demeanor, her martial prowess is vivid and impressive. Excelling in both literary and martial arts, she sings and fights with equal finesse, combining strength with grace, and beauty with intelligence. A disciple of the renowned Wang Zhiquan, she revitalizes martial roles as a Daomadan; employed by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, she commands the stage with solid talent. With centuries of refinement, a new tune in the water mill, and a clear, elegant voice in song, dance, and dialogue, Kunqu Opera, known as the ancestor of all operas and the orchid among them, is regaining its luster through the inheritance of her generation of young actors.
The Theater Style Award was awarded to Ms. Xu Lidong, an international musical theater actress. She is the open and free Mimi in "Rent," and the kind and steadfast Kim in "Miss Saigon"; she is Anna Karenina, Lady Macbeth, and Grizabella the Glamour Cat. Never tiring, each performance brings new surprises; never perfunctory, each role is a fresh flavor. Loyal to her passion, she keeps her original heart. Traversing stages at home and abroad, she dedicates herself to diverse roles, sings from the depths of her heart, and embodies the postures of life. Striving for what she loves is the meaning of life she believes in; moving forward on her own path is the way she chooses to grow. With the beautiful scenery of spring and the sun rising in the east.
Gigliola Curiel once said, "The attitude towards life should not be one of silence." For women, by women; from women, to women. "Her Blooming Night" is CURIEL's way of giving voice to the outstanding women who have been diligently cultivating their fields, allowing them to ultimately bloom at the pinnacle of life's stage.
