Shine Like a Gem: Busiqueens Anniversary Celebration and Recognition 2025

The Busiqueens Anniversary Celebration and Recognition 2025, themed Shine Like a Gem, marked the community's fourth anniversary on Saturday, 28 June 2025 at Hotel Rock Star Suites and Banquets, Karaya Road, Kolkata.

It brought together women entrepreneurs, professionals, homemakers, creative artists and members to honour women's achievements and create real chances to connect, collaborate and grow. The evening mixed recognition, motivational stories, business networking, prize games, a Best Dressed Lady contest, live mehendi counters and a gift for every guest.

Four years of Busiqueens

Busiqueens started in June 2021 as a Facebook group of women who wanted to grow their businesses together. Four years later, it runs a verified business directory, events, a magazine and an awards programme. The 2025 anniversary celebrated how far the community had come, with one simple message: when women support one another, individual achievements become collective progress.

Recognition: celebrating women's achievements

The heart of the evening was the recognition segment, where nominees and award recipients were honoured with mementoes for their work, from building a business to pursuing a creative passion. Award titles announced on stage included:

• Popular Baker Award 2025: Farheen Perveen, F7 Cakes and More
• Popular Organic Beauty Products 2025: Arshi Minnat, The Organic Beauty
• Queen of Makeovers Award 2025

Members who had made remarkable progress within a year were also called out on stage.

Motivational stories

Women shared their journeys, the challenges they faced and what kept them going. For new entrepreneurs, these stories were a push to take the first step; for established owners, a source of fresh ideas. The message was clear: no woman has to build her business alone.

Networking and business card exchange

A dedicated business-card exchange made networking part of the programme rather than leaving it to chance. A fashion entrepreneur could find a new customer, a service provider could meet a collaborator, and a newer business could learn from someone more experienced. Read more in our guide to business networking groups for women in Kolkata.

Games and the Best Dressed Lady contest

Prize games kept the room laughing and talking. The theme invited guests to wear gem-coloured outfits (optional), and the Best Dressed Lady contest celebrated personal style and confidence, with a special gift for the winner.

Live mehendi and a gift for every guest

Live mehendi counters added a festive touch. Every attendee went home with mehendi cones and a complimentary Classic Hydra Facial or Hijama voucher, plus a mixed gift pack that could include suit pieces, kurtis, hijabs, accessories, children's stationery and organic beauty products from participating brands.

Food and hospitality

Guests enjoyed savoury snacks, paratha and chicken kabab, desserts, cakes and soft drinks, with tea from Nawabi Kabab and water from Unmukt by Y.E.S.

Featured in Akhbar-e-Mashriq

The celebration was featured in the Urdu newspaper Akhbar-e-Mashriq, which highlighted the women entrepreneurs and members who took part, taking the spirit of Shine Like a Gem beyond the venue.

Thank you to our venue partner

Our sincere thanks to Rockstar Group for hosting us at Hotel Rock Star Suites and Banquets. The group also owns Yalla Habibi, Liger Gym, Nawabi Kabab and AJ's Salon, which supported the evening individually.

Our sponsors and supporting businesses

The night was made possible by these 21 businesses, who contributed products, gifts, food, media coverage and services:

1. Eventastic (Samrin Sayyed): Event planning and decor for Haldi, Mehendi, Nikkah, weddings, birthdays and grand entries. @even_tastic
2. Khwahish Boutique (Hena Arshad): Pakistani, Chundri and Indian suits, 173 Park Street, Kolkata. @khwahishboutiquekolkata
3. N.F. Creation (Noureen Warsi): Home-run label for ready-made suits, kurtis and co-ord sets. @nf_creation_by_noureen
4. F7 Cakes and More (Farheen Perveen): Custom cakes, pastries, hampers and return gifts; contributed desserts. @F7_cakes
5. Nagma Mehndi Art (Nagma Athar Khan): Bridal mehendi artist and trainer with 14+ years of experience; contributed mehendi cones.
6. Startech Events: Videography partner that documented the evening.
7. NF Baker (Nikhat Yasin): Home bakery in Topsia for custom cakes, chocolate hampers and snacks; contributed cakes. @nf_bakers
8. Sha's Collection (Shama Parveen): Kidswear, toys, stationery and home decor on Gora Chand Road; gifting partner.
9. Rahmat Healing Cups (Kaniz Fatma): Hijama, skin and hair clinic on Topsia Road; gave every guest a Classic Hydra Facial or Hijama voucher.
10. Snack and Sweet (Nusrat Jahan): Home-made frozen snacks and sweets; contributed to the food. @snack_n_sweet
11. The Kolkata News (Md. Shabbir): Facebook-based local news channel; media partner.
12. Gravity Coaching Centre (Arsha Ahmed): Science coaching for Classes 6 to 12 (ICSE, CBSE, ISC) in Ripon Street and Topsia.
13. Itz Hijabi Trends (Sk Afreen Zaira): Hijabs, abayas and modest-fashion essentials at Kohinoor Market, Topsia; contributed hijabs. @itz_hijabi_trends
14. The Organic Beauty (Arshi Minnat): Handcrafted organic skincare; contributed products to the gift bags.
15. The Organic Palette (Firdous Begum): Glow and Glam gifting partner: American Diamond studs and organic skin and hair care.
16. Unmukt by Y.E.S. (Kulsum Hamid): Water partner; jewellery and home decor made by women artisans of South 24 Parganas.
17. Ishika Mehndi A (Ruksar Begum): Gifting partner for nail mehendi cones.
18. Yalla Habibi: Restaurant and cafe inside Hotel Rock Star; Official Adda and venue support partner.
19. Liger Gym: Fitness centre in Park Circus and Ballygunge.
20. Nawabi Kabab: Tea partner, Karaya Road, Park Circus.
21. AJ's Salon (Jameela Anjarwala): Unisex salon at 22 Circus Avenue; event partner.

See every Busiqueens sponsor since 2021 on our partners and sponsors page

Watch the award function

Relive the speeches, sponsors and awards in this video from the evening.

Looking ahead

Shine Like a Gem was a reminder that every woman brings something valuable to her community, whether through business, creativity, expertise or care for her family. Busiqueens will keep creating spaces where women are recognised, introduce their businesses and inspire each other. If you run a small business, list your business on Busiqueens and join the free Busiqueens Facebook group to hear when nominations open.

Photo gallery

Photos from Shine Like a Gem 2025. Tap any photo to see it full size.

Sources

• Busiqueens Anniversary Celebration and Recognition 2025 post-event report, Busiqueens (2025)
• Shine Like a Gem award function video, Busiqueens YouTube channel (Sep 2025)
• Akhbar-e-Mashriq newspaper coverage (2025)