Six women from six very different worlds shared one stage in Beirut this month. A doctor, a chef, a technologist, a fashion figure, a business leader and a drama therapist were named the 2026 honourees of L'Oréal Paris Lebanon's Women of Worth initiative, now in its fourth Lebanese edition.
The honourees are Rima Bikhazi Azar, Gemy Maalouf, Rouba Khalil, Tiffany Saade, Dr. Zeina Zeidan and Zeina Daccache. L'Oréal Paris recognised them for their work across medicine, fashion, culinary arts, technology, leadership and social impact.
A Ceremony at Résidence des Pins
Guests gathered at the Résidence des Pins, the official residence of the French Ambassador to Lebanon, for the ceremony. The building carries weight in Lebanese history: it is where the state of Greater Lebanon was proclaimed in 1920. Hosting a French beauty brand's awards there ties the evening to the long cultural link between Beirut and Paris.
L'Oréal Paris described the honourees as women who lead, create, innovate and make a meaningful impact. The brand framed the night as a celebration of ambition and resilience, closing its announcement with its well known tagline: "because you're worth it."
From a US Programme to a Lebanese Edition
Women of Worth started in the United States in 2006 as the philanthropic programme of L'Oréal Paris, honouring women who give back to their communities. The Lebanese version has now run four times, each year picking a new group of local women to put in the spotlight.
This year's list leans wide on purpose. It puts a medical professional next to a culinary name and a technology figure next to a social impact pioneer. Zeina Daccache, for example, is known for founding Catharsis, the Lebanese Center for Drama Therapy, which has run theatre programmes inside Lebanese prisons.
What Brands Gain From Recognition Programmes
For a mass beauty brand, programmes like this do more than hand out awards. They attach the brand to real local stories at a time when Lebanese consumers pay close attention to who shows up for the country. Picking honourees from medicine, food, fashion and tech also lets L'Oréal Paris speak to several audiences through one event.
For the six women, the recognition brings visibility for their work beyond their own sectors, with a global brand amplifying their names across its Lebanese channels.
