'Rising star' Jamelia Donaldson is a former Enfield County School pupil — ‘Rising star’ Jamelia Donaldson is a former Enfield County School pupil

Two Enfield entrepreneurs have been named as winners at the Black British Business Awards.

Jamelia Donaldson, who won in the ‘Entrepreneur Rising Star’ category, and Uzo Okwuosa, named as ‘Consumer and Luxury Rising Star’, picked up their prizes last month in a glittering ceremony at St Paul’s Leonardo Royal Hotel in central London.

The Black British Business Awards (BBBA) celebrate exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of black professionals and entrepreneurs in the UK.

A former Enfield County School pupil, Jamelia is founder of Treasure Tress, a product discovery box for women and girls with textured hair. Jamelia graduated from Aston University with a first-class business degree in 2013 and set up Treasure Tress two years later, describing it as a way to help black women “look after their curly hair in the conventional fashion they have always deserved”.

Jamelia, after picking up her BBBA prize, said: “It feels amazing and overwhelming to be the winner of the Entrepreneur Rising Star category. I wasn’t expecting it because the other finalists are doing some amazing work as well, but I feel completely blown away.

“The BBBA are so important because they allow us to be seen, heard, appreciated and valued as citizens for the culture we are helping to build in the UK. It makes me feel visible, which is not only important to me, but to others that look up and towards me for guidance, advice and mentorship.”

Kingston University graduate Uzo Okwuosa is a fashion designer at Frank Horn, a brand established in 2015 that offers a wide selection of luxury handmade leather goods with an emphasis on “quality, functionality and timelessness”. He is based at a workshop in Barking and sells his products online; Uzo’s designs have been showcased at some of London’s prestigious design and craft exhibitions.

“I came here not expecting much and to think I have been considered, shortlisted and won is amazing,” Uzo said of his award. “It’s a weird dynamic because I’m usually in my studio being a creative and it feels amazing to come here and get recognition for my work.”

The Black British Business Awards have been running for six years. Chair and co-founder Melanie Eusebe said: “I am enormously proud of the winning talent in this year’s awards and to be able to showcase such a versatile range of business excellence. I wish all the winners the greatest success in their onward journey.”

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