Australian beauty founders shine in ALIBI Awards finalists
The 2026 Australian Ladies in Business Initiative (ALIBI) Awards have spotlighted a range of beauty entrepreneurs, showcasing the breadth of Australia’s independent beauty sector. Catriona Wordsworth, founder of the handmade skincare brand Blossom ’n’ Bloom, stands out as a finalist in two categories: Handmade Heroine and Overcoming the Odds. The dual recognition highlights both the product-led side of Wordsworth’s business and the resilience required to continue building an independent brand in a challenging retail and small-business environment.
Blossom ’n’ Bloom produces soaps made from botanical oils, butters, and essential oils, prioritizing considered ingredients and more sustainable everyday beauty rituals. The brand specialises in handmade soaps and positions itself around natural beauty, sustainable self-care and small-batch production. Wordsworth also leads Lady Gray, another artisan soap brand, further solidifying her influence in Australia’s independent beauty sector.
In the Handmade Heroine category, Wordsworth competes alongside April Dumbleton of Rubywood Laundry Booster, Megan Patterson of Magical Megs, and Sandy Naidoo of Durbalicious Pickles & Spices. For Overcoming the Odds, she joins nine other finalists, including Ashley Johnson of Antares Beauty.
Deb Frost, founder of Mooie Makeup, has earned a nomination in the Product-Based Business of the Year category. Launched in 2012, her brand specializes in personalised and refillable beauty products, such as the Facci System, which uses reusable magnetic palettes and refillable pans to minimize waste. Frost, a makeup artist with over three decades of experience, developed the system with a focus on customisation, mature consumers and reducing packaging waste.
Michal Gabriel of MG Beauty & Brow in New South Wales has secured finalist status in two categories: Aspiring Leader of the Year and Enduring Brilliance. Her business provides services including brows, skin treatments, lashes, hair removal, makeup, and spa services, with Gabriel bringing more than 23 years of industry experience to the business. Meanwhile, Rose Zahrooni of Roses Hair Studio is recognized in Creative Service of the Year and Lady Tradie, highlighting her contributions to professional hair services.
The awards, now in their fifth edition, celebrate women-led ventures across 28 categories spanning product, service, creative, regional and entrepreneurial businesses. The 2026 ceremony will take place in Orange, New South Wales, on October 24, 2026, marking the first time the event will be held in a regional location.
