L’Oréal Paris Women Awards 2012, commemorated the most outstanding Indian women achievers this year. In the first year of the awards, L’Oréal Paris honoured 19 extraordinary Indian women and exceptional man, the finest talents in their areas of expertise, from art, music, education, business, social activism, cinema amongst others.

The L’Oréal Paris ‘Because You’re Worth It’ award was presented by L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to the winners. Making her first official appearance post motherhood, Aishwarya had a surprise up her sleeve when she gave away a special award to the woman most worth it to her – her mother Mrs. Vrinda Rai.“I would like to thank L’Oréal Paris for giving me such a great platform to show my appreciation to the woman who’s most worth it to me, the nucleus of my life, my mother,” she said.

The star-studded ceremony saw winners including Sona Mahapatra (Music and Performing Arts), Poorna Jagannathan (Breakthrough Performance), Kahini ArteMerchan Art), Dipika Pallikal (Sports), Dr Firuza Parikh (Science and Innovation), Ekta Kapoor (Business and Entrepreneurship), Kalpana Swaminath(Literary Contribution), Neelam Chhiber (Social Impact), Alka Shesha(Education) ,Mansi Poddar/Kanika Parab (Online Influencer), Kangna Ranaut(Style) among others.