Amina Muaddi doesn’t take the right to freedom for granted.
“I’d like to thank my mother for my first gift, which was the gift of freedom. It seems like a basic right, but for me to have the freedom to live the life I wanted and to do what I want for work — it is not often given to women from my side of the world,” the Jordanian-Romanian designer said onstage at the 2019 FN Achievement Awards in New York, where she took home the Designer of the Year honor.
“My mother made me believe I could be anything I wanted to be. And she made sacrifices so I could be free,” Muaddi added. “So I wish for every girl who comes where I come from to be free, and that she can reach the stars.”
This marked the second FNAA win in a row for Muaddi. Last year, she received FN’s Launch of the Year award. She is the first-ever designer to receive the awards back to back.
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Muaddi said the win was “emotional,” adding “I started tearing up when [FN editorial director Michael Atmore] called to tell me I was going to win this award because I didn’t expect it.”
Muaddi was introduced by famous sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton.
“She has glamour, charisma, star quality and the best shoes, of course,” said Nicky. Paris added that ” Her shoes are crazy, sexy and cool — and we hear Rihanna wears them.”
The 33rd annual FNAA ceremony is sponsored by Klarna, Geox, The Style Room Powered by Zappos, FDRA, Micam Milano and Buchanan’s Scotch Whisky.
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