Sunday lunches have supplanted cocktail parties and late-night feasts as the newest thing in fashion get-togethers. Michaela Coel took center stage at an exclusive event organized by ELLE UK, Pandora, and the British Fashion Council at London’s Toklas restaurant. The event honored Coel for becoming the first Pandora Leader of Change Award winner at the 2023 Fashion Awards.
Notable people, including Pamela Anderson, Precious Lee, Ashley Park, and Paapa Essiedu, were on the star-studded guest list. The honor honors Coel for his significant achievements in acting, scripting, and filmmaking, especially regarding ground-breaking films like “Chewing Gum” and the Emmy and BAFTA-winning “I May Destroy You.”
Attendees, including supermodels Sasha Pivovarova, Sherry Shi, and Precious Lee, showed off their Sunday best despite the rainy weather. The cuisine, which included delicious items like cinnamon beignets, radicchio salad, and spiced ceviche, created a lovely atmosphere for the occasion.
During the ceremony, Coel’s friend and co-star in “I May Destroy You,” Paapa Essiedu, gave a moving tribute and shared memories of their days as drama students. He called Coel’s capacity to inspire everyone she meets “the magic of Michaela,” emphasizing its uniqueness.
Coel was named the prize winner by Pandora Global ambassador Pamela Anderson. Wearing a fitted leather dress, bold earrings, and clogged flatforms, Coel gave an acceptance speech that lasted 11 minutes and moved many people to tears. She shared personal tales from her career in the arts to highlight the value of advocacy and leadership in creative environments.
Kenya Hunt, the editor-in-chief of ELLE UK, who was hosting the lunch, paid a moving homage to Coel before the meal. She praised Coel for inspiring these ideals and positively influencing the creative community. She expressed her wish that the fashion business would place a higher priority on compassion and empathy.
As the inaugural Pandora Leader of Change Award recipient, Coel said she was “humbled and delighted.” Pamela Anderson will give the esteemed prize during the next Fashion Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall. Guests left the luncheon with a lovely chain necklace from Pandora as a poignant memento of this momentous occasion.
