A Glamorous Celebration of Beauty and Wellness
The beauty industry’s brightest stars gathered in Manhattan for the second annual Gurus Beauty Awards, held at the stunning Docks Off Fifth. Co-hosted by wellness expert Hilaria Baldwin and Gurus Magazine Publisher, Founder, and Editor-in-Chief Derek Warburton, the evening celebrated innovation, artistry, leadership, and achievement across the beauty and wellness industries.
From the moment guests arrived, the venue delivered a sense of spectacle. A breathtaking wall-to-wall floral installation cascaded along the grand staircase entrance, setting the tone for an evening where beauty flourished in every detail. Inside, towering lifelike floral trees reached toward the ceiling, transforming the space into a whimsical botanical garden in the heart of Manhattan.
A Botanical Garden in the City
The immersive garden-inspired design continued throughout the venue. Guests gathered at the signature Gurus floral wall and the vibrant orange and fuchsia step-and-repeat for photographs, interviews, and social moments throughout the evening.
Every detail reflected the theme with elegance and creativity. Tables were adorned with rose-shaped floral napkins, while gentlemen received custom Gurus logo pocket squares as a stylish nod to the occasion. A dedicated garden room also provided the perfect setting for award recipients to commemorate their achievements with professional portraits following the ceremony.
An Elevated Culinary Experience
The culinary experience was as memorable as the setting. Guests were welcomed with beautifully presented appetizers waiting at their tables, including shrimp tempura, salmon sliders, sushi, and a refreshing watermelon, feta, and arugula salad.
Dinner was served family-style and featured chicken parmesan over linguini, tender racks of lamb, and glazed salmon with rice and asparagus. To close the evening on a sweet note, an extravagant assortment of desserts was presented on a dazzling golden carousel, delighting guests with both its presentation and indulgent offerings.
Honoring Leaders in Beauty
The evening honored an exceptional group of beauty innovators, visionary brands, and industry leaders whose work continues to shape the future of beauty and wellness.
Hilaria Baldwin and Derek Warburton opened the awards presentation by welcoming guests and celebrating excellence in beauty, wellness, innovation, and influence.
Kara Francis, relationship expert, and Lauren Falcione, founder of The Blonde Italian, presented the Best in Skin award to Sunrider International for Oi-Lin® Deep Moisture Lotion. Michele Hojsack, Senior Manager of Training and Development, accepted the honor on behalf of the brand.
Fashion designer Nicole Miller presented Best Beauty Accessories to Blissy, with celebrity makeup artist and beauty influencer Vjosa Pacuku accepting on behalf of the brand.
Candace Bushnell, author and creator of Sex and the City, presented Celebrity Hairstylist of the Year to Eliut Rivera, founder of ELIUT Salon, who accepted the award.
Sutton Stracke of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills presented the Legacy Beauty Brand award to FACE Stockholm, with Martina Arfwidson, CEO and Co-Founder, accepting on behalf of the company.
Margaret Josephs of The Real Housewives of New Jersey presented Best in Hair Care to British M Matcha Shampoo. Robyn Newmark, Hollywood Beauty Guru and Editor-in-Chief of Beauty Guru Magazine, accepted on behalf of British M.
A Star-Studded Guest List
The guest list reflected the event’s growing influence across beauty, entertainment, fashion, and wellness. Attendees included renowned fertility specialist Dr. David Smotrich of La Jolla IVF and his wife, socialite Miriam Smotrich; Sutton Stracke; Nicole Miller; internationally acclaimed designer Yigal Azrouël; author and cultural icon Candace Bushnell; Margaret Josephs; and renowned hairstylist Eliut Rivera of ELIUT Salon.
Additional guests included fashion expert and television personality Nolé Marin; Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and David Wolkoff of ZTA Entertainment; Carmen Baldwin, daughter of host Hilaria Baldwin; and members of the cast of The Trouble with Billy, including William McNamara, Claudia Charriez, and Randall Batinkoff, who attended with his wife, Hilary Batinkoff.
Also in attendance were actor Nick Barrotta, Lauren Falcione of The Blonde Italian, Bill Wiedemann of Lumara Systems, relationship expert Kara Francis, and Vanessa Coppes, CEO of Bella Media.
A Night That Celebrated Creativity and Influence
As the evening came to a close, one thing was clear: the Gurus Beauty Awards has quickly become one of the most anticipated celebrations of beauty, innovation, and influence. More than an awards ceremony, the event served as a gathering of visionaries, creators, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers who continue to shape the future of beauty and wellness.
Special thanks were extended to Anna Rothschild PR and IE Group Co-Founder Jeff Krauss for their partnership in bringing the Gurus Beauty Awards to life. Additional thanks went to William Safkow of William NYC Flowers for the breathtaking floral installations that transformed the venue, and to the dedicated team at Docks Off Fifth for their outstanding hospitality and impeccable service throughout the evening.
The celebration was also made possible by the Gurus Media team, including Robyn Newmark, Ashley Foster-Kane, Marisa Hebert, Laura Pucker, Jennie Salmorin, and Faye Molina, whose creativity, dedication, and tireless work helped bring every detail to life.
The 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards proved that when beauty, creativity, and passion come together, something truly extraordinary blossoms.
