The Power of a Woman Awards 2025
WOMEN IN Fitness 2025
Celebrating women of colour and their achievements.
Read through the amazing contributions made by each and every one of our worthy nominees this year. Then, all you need to do is vote for the woman that you think should be the recipient of this year’s award.
You can vote for one nominee per category.
Faye Edwards
International Fitness Presenter and Celebrity Trainer Faye Edwards is an innovative well-being expert and the founder of F.I.T (Faye’s Intentional Training). Faye is renowned for her positive influence in the fitness space and infectious energy, uplifting individuals to find joy through fitness.
With a wide array of F.I.T concepts including dance, combat and mindfulness sessions, Faye has designed programmes that are fun, engaging and accessible to a diverse array of people.
Through fitness events, retreats and Faye’s Intentional Training app, Faye inspires countless people to embrace a healthier, happier lifestyle, proving that fitness can be fun, empowering, and transformative.
Faye’s ethos is to do what brings you joy, take away the pressure or the need for perfection and just FOCUS ON THE FEELING.
On being a black woman...
Christina Okenla
Christina Okenla is the founder and head trainer of Bodied By XO a fitness brand designed to empower women to feel confident and strong in their fitness journey. Bodied By XO launched in 2020 after amassing a loyal community of women from streaming her energetic workouts on Instagram from home during lockdown.
The brand has since evolved into a dynamic online fitness app – Bodied By XO, which encompasses; live and on demand workouts, gym programmes, recipes, and a space for the Bodied By XO community to connect both online and offline via in person events and classes. Christina aims to show women how we can eat our cultural foods and still get results and enjoy exercise by incorporating African and Caribbean playlists into her classes.
On being a black woman...
Claudene Osei
A dynamic and multifaceted fitness professional, Claudene is a hybrid coach and fitness enthusiast based in the heart of Westminster, London.
Passionate about empowering both physical and mental wellness through exercise, she collaborates with leading brands like Kings Gyms and Everyone Active to create impactful fitness journeys.
Known for her discipline, strength, and determination, Claudene excels in endurance sports, including Half Marathons, 10K, and 5K races, achieving remarkable finish times, while raising funds for local charities.
Her fitness repertoire extends beyond the pavement, embracing weightlifting, trail running, and hybrid training to maintain peak performance and inspire others.
Claudene embodies a lifestyle of excellence, blending athleticism, purpose, and resilience. Whether she’s helping others to achieve their goals, tackling challenging trails, or lifting her way to new personal bests, she continues to inspire many with her unwavering commitment to wellness and her role as a modern-day trailblazer in fitness.
Nancy Agnes Mpanzu
I am an NPC athlete and personal trainer for high net worth clients. I’ve been in the fitness industry for over a decade and have been placed recently x2 times 1st place at the NPC Bodybuilding competition 2024.
I am currently competing again for my pro card title in early 2025.
From long overcoming achievements, I was able to stand firm in my beliefs and utilise my abilities to inspire women of all ethnicities to lift.
By sharing my experience, I’ve encouraged women from home-makers to school teachers and beyond to invest in their health and wellbeing.
I’ve continuously defeated all obstacles and challenges in the sport & fitness industry, subsequently providing me with equal opportunities to other athletes .
I believe there is no limit to becoming accomplished as long as I believe in the power of my own resilience.
On being a black woman...
Nicolle Smartt
I started my professional life as an actor and singer, however in most recent years I founded my health and wellbeing coaching company NX Coaching.
Helping people, specifically women to take back control of their bodies, minds, physical and mental health and harnessing their lifestyle with food and exercise, all whilst assisting through chronic disease, fertility and hormonal challenges.
Whilst working as an actor I’ve managed to scale my business over the last two and a half years and during the business’s infancy, I also won a Best Supporting Female Actress in a Musical Award at the Black British Theatre Awards in 2022, for my performance in the new musical Domitius. I’ve been so lucky to have two passions that compliment each other so well, and I hope to use all the skills I continue to acquire to further support my teams, my clients and the people around me.
On being a black woman...
Lisa Nestor
Lisa Nestor is a vegan, wife, and mother of two who runs her own hugely successful health and well-being business. Like many people, during the lockdown she took a long hard look at herself and decided to do something different.
“I wanted to take control over what I did in my life and in the process, I wanted to help others too.”
Lisa has been passionate about health and fitness for as long as she could remember and has always wanted to be the fittest and healthiest she could be. After her husband was diagnosed with cancer, she became much more aware of her own mortality, food and wellbeing became her obsession.
As a qualified YMCA Level 3 personal trainer, Lisa brings expertise, energy, and compassion to her mission. Her confidence and experience grew further through her involvement [with seasoned professionals] on the popular pandemic online talk-show #NoJoke.
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On being a black woman...
Jahreen Wilson
My name is Jahreen Wilson, a 47-year-old woman who has learned that strength is born through life’s challenges. Growing up, I watched my mother, a single parent, embody what it means to be a strong Black woman. Her resilience shaped me, and as a young girl, I stepped in to help raise my younger brother, learning early on the importance of responsibility and love.
Life has tested me in many ways. Losing my mother at the young age of 58 was one of my hardest battles, and it brought with it struggles with depression and anxiety. But through it all, I’ve held onto an unwavering passion for life. I’ve come to understand that challenges don’t define us—our perseverance and the way we rise from them do.
At 31, I embarked on a fitness journey that changed my life. Starting later than most didn’t stop me; in fact, it fueled me. Fitness became more than a hobby—it became my lifeline and my calling. Over three years ago, I took this passion further and qualified as a PowerWave coach. Now, I am dedicated to showing women of all ages, shapes, and sizes that it’s never too late to become the best version of themselves.
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On being a black woman...
Don't miss The Exciting Awards Ceremony & After-Party
9th March 2025, London
You’ve voted for your favourite nominee, now show your support and secure your place at this gala Awards night, celebrating women of colour and their achievements.
THE POWER OF A WOMAN AWARDS 2025
Sunday 9th March
De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London WC2B 5DA
THE POWER OF A WOMAN AWARDS
Sunday 9th March 2025
De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London WC2B 5DA
