RIYADH: The black carpet sparkled this weekend as celebrities and public personalities united to celebrate Arab women’s achievements at the Women of Worth Gala and Award launch in Riyadh. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle “Women are important and influential members of society, and in some cases, the role they play is overlooked. Thus was born the Women of Worth program with the slogan ‘Because You’re Worth It,’” said L’Oreal’s Middle East General Manager of Consumer Products Ahmed Wagih during a speech. The evening promoted the Middle East edition of the campaigns’ award, recognizing mothers, daughters, and changemakers making a notable impact within the community. A panel of judges including L’Oreal’s Middle East spokesperson Aseel Omran, Adwa Al-Dakheel, and others will select four women nominated by the public, each of them receiving a $10,000 award to support their initiatives. Omran told Arab News: “It’s also an award for empowering and supporting women in all fields. Today, not all women are on social media or have that spotlight, so we need initiatives like this that highlight creators who are making great achievements behind the scenes.” Omran is a singer and actress and has worked with industry giants such as Jennifer Lopez and Jason Derulo. She’s also a UNHCR ambassador and aids in voicing some of the organization"s major campaigns like the Winter Appeal and the Monsoon Appeal. “No one can deny, today, that the light is being shed on the Arab Woman globally —everyone is watching and awaiting our achievements, especially Saudi women with all the changes that are happening, so we need a lot more support,” she said. During a panel talk, Omran discussed breaking barriers of fear, generational empowerment, and community building alongside Founding Member of the Family Protection Association Dr. Samira Elghamdi, entrepreneur and author Adwa Al-Dakheel, sports marketeer Budreya Faisal, and Wagih. “In an age of opportunities and societal acceptance, females are proving day in and day out that we don’t need favors — we compete regardless of gender, and market timing just happened to put a spotlight on that,” Al-Dakheel told Arab News. A version of the gala was held at the Cannes Film Festival last month in the presence of Eva Longoria, Heidy Klum, Alessandra d"Ambrosio, and other women changemakers. Attending the lavish Middle East edition at Riyadh Boulevard’s Music Mansion were public personalities including Emirati actress Mahira Abdelaziz, fitness trainer Zenah Kazim, Saudi actress Helda Yassin, influencer Karina Komil, and travel power couple Pasu and Poo. “I’m so proud of all the women in the world. This century is your century … a woman can do anything now — the impossible is possible,” influencer and luxury traveler Dr. Hasan Ghoneim told Arab News.