Porsche Centre Bahrain in Sitra set the stage for a stylish evening as Woman This Month officially unveiled Porsche as the Title Sponsor for the Woman of the Year Awards 2025.
The stylish venue welcomed a curated guest list of dignitaries, media and community figures to mark the beginning of what promises to be the most dynamic edition of the awards to date.
The event highlighted the synergy between two iconic brands – Porsche and Woman This Month – both known for championing excellence and forward-thinking values. George Middleton, Chairman and Publisher of Woman This Month, welcomed guests and reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to spotlighting women’s leadership across business, arts, health, sports, innovation and social impact.
The General Manager of Porsche Bahrain, Tim Price, delivered remarks underscoring the automotive giant’s commitment to empowerment and innovation: “At Porsche, we are committed to driving change and supporting initiatives that celebrate achievement. We are proud to stand beside Woman This Month in spotlighting the remarkable women shaping Bahrain’s future.”
This year’s awards, now in their second edition, will feature 17 honours across six core categories, including the returning Orange Economy award, which is supported by UNIDO and focuses on Bahrain’s burgeoning creative industries.
Art, Elegance and Empowerment
In a beautiful intersection of design and meaning, artist Marylou Herbert presented a bespoke artwork created specifically for the event – a mixed-media painting on mirror inspired by the new Porsche Taycan’s ‘Speed of Light’ colour branding and the Woman This Month magazine’s cover palette.
Explaining her concept, Ms. Herbert said: “I wanted to create something that reflected the values of both Porsche and Woman This Month. The mirror surface symbolises the reflective body of the car, while the fusion of purple, fuchsia, black and white represents a powerful yet feminine identity.” The piece, both arresting and symbolic, brought a unique sense of depth to the evening’s aesthetics.
Ms. Herbert, who has previously exhibited similar mirror artworks at venues across the Kingdom, developed the technique herself and described the process as both meticulous and expressive. “Each mirror has to be carefully prepared. I use acrylics to build up a layered effect that allows the light to bounce and shift – just like on a car’s chassis,” she explained.
The event was seamlessly anchored by host Marianne Semane, whose confident presence and engaging style guided the evening with poise. As the face of the announcement, Ms. Semane brought warmth, wit and energy, reflecting the spirit of the awards and their celebration of female leadership.
The evening’s cultural programme added a layer of emotive brilliance. Lebanese singer Zeina Fares captivated the audience with her rich vocals. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Ms. Fares is known for weaving heartfelt emotion and cultural depth into her performances. Her appearance added a soulful note to the already elegant evening.
Also earning enthusiastic applause was a stirring cello and dance performance by Creative Beats, led by Anna Nazimova. The ensemble, known for fusing classical music with contemporary choreography, brought a graceful intensity that lingered long after the final note.
Woman This Month extends its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, partners and supporters in attendance, whose presence marked the shared commitment to recognising the women shaping Bahrain’s future.
With nominations for the awards now open, the countdown to the December 2025 ceremony has begun – ushering in a new chapter of inspiration, recognition and celebration.
