Glamour chats to previous WOTY winner on her exciting experience

Candice Lawrence lifestyle and decor designer and owner of Modern Gesture chats to Glamour about her experience winning the Art & Design category in 2018.

G:What did winning the Glamour WOTY award in your category mean to you?

Palesa Tembe to host GLAMOUR’s Women of the Year Awards 2022

Winning WOTY was a great achievement and a stepping stone in my career whereby it gave me recognition and respect in my industry. I also became recognized internationally.

G:We have not been able to host this prestigious event for a few years since the pandemic. What can you advise the new nominees to expect on the night?

Expect to be WOWED!!! It’s a beautiful event celebrated by many hard working, trailblazing women doing absolutely remarkable work in their respected fields. It’s a great space to network and enjoy yourself. I reflected on my journey and what it took to bring me to this point and how hard I worked to achieve my goals. I hope my journey serves as an inspiration for other women to reach for their goals and dreams.

G:What was the highlight of your night in 2018?

To have shared the moment and the award with family as well as sharing the stage with other women doing amazing things. Many times we work in our own industries and we are not aware of the struggles or achievements of other women in other industries but with WOTY you get to hear every woman's story. Being on stage with them is such a privilege and blessing.

G:This is an international brand property for Glamour’s across the world. This year Glamour US will honour Angela Basset and Jennifer Hudson at their event. How does that make you feel to know that you belong to an elite class of women across the globe?

Really humbled to have been nominated in 2018. As mentioned we women work very hard and give our best in our careers because we know our purpose in this world. To be recognized by Glamour and be on the same platform as Angela Basset and Jennifer Husdon I have no words.. I’m honoured to be associated with the brand and to be a part of such an extraordinary group of women.

G:Besides winning the WOTY award, have there been other career defining moments?

We have since gone on to design for brands like Sanlam, One & Only, Singita, 54 Kibo in the USA and still designing for Nando’s locally and abroad. as well as collaborating with many local interior design companies. We are currently working on a light installation at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, which should be made public by Mid November 2022. We are also in talks on some business ventures in the Netherlands, but I can’t say much on that just yet, although we are excited to get the ball rolling on this!

G:What is next for your brand?

We hope to be involved in bigger design projects around the world, and expand our range to export globally. To continue to inspire and motivate others to not give up on their dreams. We at Modern Gesture never gave up. We are where we are today because of grit and hard work. At Modern Gesture Designs it’s been about the journey and building long lasting relationships with our clients as well as building a culture within the brand that people want to be a part of.

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