More than 70 women gathered at the Yacht Club de Monaco on Thursday 12th March to celebrate the fifth edition of the Women of Monaco Awards, recognising female achievement across eight fields from sport and fashion to philanthropy and the arts — and raising €14,500 for the Fondation Princesse Grace in the process.
The exclusive annual lunch, organised by Five Stars Events on the initiative of Sandrine Knoell and supported by Barclays Private Bank, also marked the third anniversary of the Women of Monaco Club, which Sandrine Knoell founded in March 2023 as an English-language network for women connected to Monaco through residence, professional activity, education, philanthropy or the arts. Members join by sponsorship and share, in Knoell’s words, a genuine desire to support one another.
“I believe it is essential that women in Monaco feel part of a supportive community where they can learn, share, and grow together,” she said. “For many women who are new to Monaco and may not yet speak French fluently, the Club offers an inclusive space to connect and participate.”
The awards
The Women of Monaco Awards 2026 recognised women across eight categories. The winners were Francesca Agostinelli (Media), Katerina Stassinopoulos (Philanthropy), Anna Marmorale (Health), Olga de Marzio (Art), Anna Hu (Entrepreneur), Isabel Fargnoli (Fashion), Susie Wolff (Sport) and Louise Debeaumont (Youth Talent).
Princess Caroline of Hanover received the Diamond award for her devotion to culture, education, and the advancement of women through the arts.
Barclays on women and leadership
Aude Berrin from Barclays Private Bank delivered a speech on ‘Women & Wealth: The Power of Purpose, Leadership, and Community’. In remarks addressed to those gathered, she said: “The Women of Monaco Club exemplifies what happens when the women of Monaco unite to support one another. Your stories, your successes, your resilience are not only inspiring — you are building a legacy for Monaco and beyond. Today’s awards remind us that leadership wears many faces.”
Partners and programme
The lunch also featured a showcase from Arije, the high-end watchmaking and jewellery maison with boutiques in Monaco, Paris, Cannes and London, which joined the event as a new partner. A fashion presentation by Biancaneve Bridal Boutique, produced by Fashion Business Lab in collaboration with CoolBay Monaco, also formed part of the afternoon.
The event was supported by Explora Journeys, Clinique La Prairie, CoolBay Monaco and artist and designer Agneta Livijn.
In total, €14,500 was raised for the Princess Grace Foundation.
View this post on Instagram
All photos courtesy of Five Stars Events
Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.