The Millinery & Business Academy Awards
The Annual Millinery Awards are our way of recognising the exceptional work our members create throughout the year
Meet our 2026 Winners
Kayley Lennon
Cara Thomas Millinery
MILLINER OF THE YEAR
For outstanding millinery work, creativity, technique and development over the year
Kaylee has been with our Academy for over 6 years, she is a truly incredible Milliner and a huge part of our wonderful community!
Kaylee has been with our Academy for over 6 years, she is a truly incredible Milliner and a huge part of our wonderful community!
Claire Sceats
Sceats Millinery
HAT OF THE YEAR
For the standout hat created by an Academy member this year
Claire hand crafted the stunning red piece she wears in the photo, which just had to be the hat of the year for us!
Claire hand crafted the stunning red piece she wears in the photo, which just had to be the hat of the year for us!
Jana G
Jana Katrina Millinery
CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
For someone who has done particularly well growing their business and brand
Jana has made some brilliant moves with her business in the last year (and last), her social media is just stunning, her work with stylists for fashion week and press features - we are in awe!
Jana has made some brilliant moves with her business in the last year (and last), her social media is just stunning, her work with stylists for fashion week and press features - we are in awe!
Veronika Lazarenko
VL Millinery
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Veronika has had a truly exceptional year, coming 3rd place at the Lincoln International Millinery Competition and representing the UK internationally at the Caussade Hat Festival 2026!
Ranelle Larocque
Queen Bee Millinery
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Ranelle is one of Canada’s leading Milliners, her success over the last couple of years has been an inspiration - co-founding the Toronto Hat walk, serving as the official Milliner for the Kings Plate, and was awarded the Queen’s Hat Exhibition Innovation Award in Milan for 2 consecutive years!
Hazel Beaumont
The Milliner Provocateur
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
We are so proud of everything Hazel has achieved over this last year, winning 2nd place at a millinery competition in Australia and being featured not once but twice for TV; an interview at Newmarket Races and featured on ITV Anglia News!
Hayley Williams
Oak Millinery
COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAR
Hayley is the heart of our community, she supports us (me, Katherine) with our events, helps organise days out and is there to support everyone in our group - with excellent advice and amazing energy!
Shauna Davies
The Mackem Milliner
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Shauna joined our Academy only this year, after winning our Kandinsky Challenge in the “beginner category” in March! She has quickly become a key member and huge part of our community - and has just amazed us with her talent this year already! Excited to see want she does next!
About the Awards
The Millinery Awards are held at our annual end-of-year afternoon tea, a celebration we've been running for years, now with the Awards added in as something new for 2026.
The Awards are a genuine way to recognise the exceptional work our members create throughout the year.
Watching our members thrive, grow their businesses & do incredible things is one of the best parts of the Academy, I’m so proud of every single one of them - both past and present!
The Awards are a genuine way to recognise the exceptional work our members create throughout the year.
Watching our members thrive, grow their businesses & do incredible things is one of the best parts of the Academy, I’m so proud of every single one of them - both past and present!
Who we are
The Millinery & Business Academy is Katherine Elizabeth's online school for milliners - offering courses, private tuition, and a supportive community for anyone learning millinery and building a creative business, from complete beginners to experienced makers.
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