EN THE AWARD GOES TO…

ME

Really. I never win anything. Back when I spent my youth in Zeeland and spent endless days on the back of my pony Yvo, I used to want to drag home a trophy and a rosette. But other than that, awards haven't really found their way to me.

Everyone around me always wins everything. Sales director Daan once won curtains for her entire house from a home magazine and fashion mom Harriet Calo once created a slogan for Chanel's number 19. ‘Forever 19’ she came up with and she got to shop for 10,000 guilders (yes yes) in the boutique on Rue Cambon.

But I always get overlooked. Okay, Amayzine received a nomination for best launch of the year last year. That was kind of for me. But still, but still. A trophy cabinet would have been a completely unnecessary purchase in my life.

Until I got a phone call a month or so ago. It was Anja. For years the woman who manages the nail polish brand OPI in the Netherlands and who is always willing to set up a nail corner at our events and give our guests a touch-up.

To further emphasize her brand, she came up with the OPI Beautiful Hands Award a few years ago, which she awards to (these are her words, okay) strong and entrepreneurial women. Previous winners included Candy Dulfer, Esther Vergeer, Quinty Trustfull, and my online colleague Anna Nooshin. And now that award… went to me. You understand, I was glowing from head to my (not so neatly polished) toe.

Aside from the honor, the super cozy lunch (with Anja, her daughter, PR representative Milou, former winner Quinty, and our marketer Theo), the real trophy, and all the goodies, the best prize was that I get to have my nails done for a year.

So if you catch me again with a chipped specimen, you can give me a reprimand. At least it wasn't Anja and the super polishes from OPI's fault.