THEThe creativity and unique aesthetic sense of the girls, combined with the support of an international brand that has always supported women, and NABA, the New Academy of Fine Arts which represents a guarantee of quality in the panorama of Italian teaching, give life to a project to celebrate female creativity.
Carolina Herrera, New York brand founded in 1981, promotes in collaboration with NABA, the largest Italian Academy of Fine Arts and among the 100 best universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings® by Subject Art&Design, a new initiative: two Study Awards intended for female students and enrolled students who, although not by identifying with the gender assigned at birth, they recognize themselves as women and have activated the Alias Career at the Academy. The beneficiaries were selected among those enrolled in the third year of the three-year course, both in Italian and English, for the academic year 2024/2025. The fashion and beauty house, which has made its irreverent elegance a sign of style, thus decides to promote the arts and beauty through the vision of new generation artists. In particular, the iconic “Good Girl” perfume is the partner and protagonist of the worthy initiative.
The project
The students of NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts who participated in the competition reinterpreted the iconic Good Girl stiletto, giving free expression to their creative vision, highlighting the value aspect inherent in the DNA of the maison: “Empowering women since 1981”.
Great freedom was left to the participants, in fact they were able to use classic tools but also make use of cutting-edge digital technologies. The final works were evaluated by an internal jury which rewarded the most creative projects, also taking into account the income situation and academic curriculum.
During a special event held on 12 December 2024 at Corriere della Sera, in the presence of Carolina Herrera, creative director of the Maison’s beauty sector, the two winners were awarded.
The award includes not only financial support for studies at NABA, but also a program that includes an HR coaching session with the Puig team, designed to guide female students towards a future of working in multinational companies.
This initiative, in fact, is part of the global program Carolina Herrera for Women in the Artswhich promotes female creativity in various fields, from fashion to digital art.
The winners
Two girls with very different aesthetic visions, but with unquestionable talent and creativity, were chosen as winners: Martine Hellen Johannessen and Martina Lorusso.
For Martine, a three-year Design student at the Academy, inspiration came from an association of personal ideas linked to her family.“My artwork is a celebration of female power. It consists of a statement, bold and impactful piece that embraces the essence of femininity through form and craftsmanship. Inspired by the iconic shape of the Good Girl Stiletto shoe—a symbol of confidence and strength—I explore the contours and shapes that women associate with femininity through the delicate art of embroidery. Embroidery, an art rooted in history and often passed down from generation to generation among women, has a profound meaning for me. I learned this skill from my grandmother, and it has become my way of creating something deeply personal and unique. Unfortunately, she recently passed away, and this project is a tribute to her life and all her creations. Each stitch is an individual expression, just as each woman is unique, and together we can do extraordinary things.”
The work “Steps in the night” by Martine Hellen Johannessen
The reflection of Martina, a BA student in Cinema and Animation, was based on the female universe and her personal experience as a woman: “When I was younger, I saw a plaque by the American artist Jenny Holzer at the Tate Modern in London: “At night it is a relief to see a girl walking towards you or behind you. You are less likely to be attacked.” I didn’t fully understand its meaning at the time. Now it’s part of my reality. In my short film I explore the innate sisterhood between women—a bond that helps us reclaim the night with our collective glow. Different in character and nuances, we complement each other and, united, we pass through the darkness. This sisterhood also inspired my reinterpretation of the iconic Good Girl perfume. Drawing inspiration from Pop Art and modern cinema animated in 2.5D, I created a bottle that symbolizes unity and brightness. The colors of the protagonists blend into the body of the bottle, while a photoluminescent paint traces its perimeter, ensuring that its silhouette shines even in the dark. United, bright and strong. The Good Girls are not afraid to shine.”
Steps in the Night by Martina Lorusso
Honorable mention goes to Eva Demattèstudent of the three-year course in Cinema and Animation, for questioning herself in a new way on the theme of femininity, interpreting it with a set of strong and evocative photographs that retrace moments of past memory.
With this project, Carolina Herrera and NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti reiterate their commitment to gender equity and female empowerment, celebrating the talent and determination of women in the world of the arts. For more details, visit the official website NABA and follow @carolinaherrera And @naba on Instagram for updates.
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