Anyone who knows me knows that I never pass up an excuse to dress up. Since Lending Luxury opened on Spence Street, I’ve had my eye on an Alex Perry gown and finally on Saturday the 13th of May the time had finally come wear it.

The 31st Cairns Business Women’s Club Annual Awards Gala Ball was not only the perfect occasion to wear the Alex Perry dress, it was also an absolute privilege to be in a room with so many inspiring women in the Cairns business community. The ballroom at The Pacific Hotel was perfectly decorated to fit the floral theme of the evening featuring a flower wall similar to the one Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian in front of (not sorry to bring them up, that wall was beautiful. Google it if you don’t believe me!).

The categories on the night included: Business Woman of the Year; Small Business Owner; Manager of the Year; Sole Entrepreneur; Young Entrepreneur; Indigenous Business Women and the Michelle Commins Volunteer of the Year. I can’t begin to tell you how incredible the vibe was when the finalists for each category were announced. Every one of the women nominated were leaders in their fields and absolutely deserving of the recognition. Judging any of these categories would have been next to impossible and in front of the 250+ guests the winner of each category was announced. I’m not gonna lie, I welled up a bit in some of the acceptance speeches. It was hard not to get swept up in the words of the ladies who won. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to test out my networking skills with women of such high caliber. 

Quite a few of the women in attendance were familiar with the Social Butterfly campaign and mentioned that they’ve been following my journey closely. For a complete stranger to recognise my face before I introduced myself and tell me they’re excited to see what I’m doing with the campaign is a feeling I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get used to any time soon.  In saying that I need to thank Emma Moylan from MAC at the Cairns Airport for my glam look that night. It’s a lot easier to take on a room full of strangers when you feel confident knowing your makeup looks sensational. 

The night was everybit what I imagined it was going to be like – The food wasn’t bad either! I didn’t realise how lucky we are here in Cairns so have such a solid collaboration of women in business. Ladies I suggest if you are in businees or would like to get into it, contact the CBWC. Or go to their next luncheon and rub shoulders with outstanding women in our comminity.

To keep up with what’s happening around the region, tune into HitFM and 89.1 community radio each Friday or follow Social Butterfly Marketing on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat or of course pick up your copy of the Cairns Eye.