Little Simz Accepts the Cultural Innovator Award at The British Fashion Awards 2025

"I want to dedicate this award to my younger self because she saw it through "

At the 2025 edition of The Fashion Awards, held on 1 December at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Little Simz was honoured with the Cultural Innovator Award. The prize celebrates a “leading innovator and image-maker in the entertainment industry” whose work over the past year has had “a profound impact on the fashion industry and wider culture.”

Her win felt particularly resonant, not only because of her cross-disciplinary success (music, film, festival-curation, style), but because the award symbolised the deliberate convergence of music, storytelling, identity and fashion that she champions.

During her acceptance speech, Little Simz said:

> “As a creative, sometimes we feel bogged down by the need to create something groundbreaking, and we worry about the wrong things. I think the key is having a vision and seeing it through, so I want to dedicate this award to my younger self because she saw it through.”

That moment stood out, a beautiful, vulnerable recognition of her younger self’s tenacity. Rather than touting overnight success, she honoured the journey: the doubts, the persistence, and the belief that even when uncertain, staying true to one’s vision matters.

It serves as a powerful reminder that creativity often demands grit, faith, and consistency, even when the world isn’t watching.

Why This Award (and Her Speech) Matters

The award underlines how Little Simz isn’t just influencing music, but redefining what it means to be a “cultural voice” blending sound, style, identity, and storytelling across mediums.

Her look for the night (a custom outfit by Tolu Coker) itself spoke to her roots, merging British tailoring and nods to her Nigerian heritage, embodying the dual identity so many creatives navigate today.

By dedicating the award to her younger self, she acknowledged the internal struggles many creatives face, imposter syndrome, doubt, the fear of not being “enough.” It was a moment of authenticity, humility, and empowerment.

The most inspiring part of Little Simz’s speech is the way she honoured her younger self, not just as a sentimental gesture, but as a bold statement about resilience, vision, and self-trust. In an industry and moment that rewards overnight success and flash, she reminded us that the real work is internal: staying true to your voice, even when no one is watching.