SWOTY winners crowned at star-studded event

Katarzyna Ring, Spectacle Wearer of the Year

Katarzyna Ring was crowned this year’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year  (SWOTY) after showcasing her spectacular style at a star-studded awards ceremony in London in aid of anti-bullying charity Kidscape.

The 30-year-old was presented the award by dancing star Oti Mabuse and show host Rylan Clark-Neal. She won a £10,000 cash prize and £1,000 glasses wardrobe from Specsavers.

Katarzyna said: “To be the winner of the overall Spectacle Wearer of the Year Awards is just amazing, I can’t believe it.”

Student optometrist Nashwa Choudhury, 20, from Bradford won the Editor’s Choice Award and said: ‘Besides wearing glasses to help correct my vision, I also wear them to help express my sense of style. I believe everyone should wear their glasses with pride and I’m over the moon to have been chosen.’

The Dame Mary Perkins Award for eye health went to optometrist Emma Ginger from Specsavers Exeter for saving the life of a patient with a rare brain condition. She was accompanied on stage to receive the award from Dame Mary by her patient, Megan Turner, who had been suffering debilitating headaches before booking an eye test. Emma detected that Megan’s optical nerve was badly swollen and made an urgent referral to hospital where she was diagnosed and successfully treated for intercranial hypertension.

Emma commented: “I am really flattered and grateful to receive an award for doing what we do every day. I’m passionate about optometry and the role of optometrists and I feel that Specsavers do a fantastic job at promoting the importance of eye tests to the general public.”

Celebrities were also recognised on the night with Strictly star and RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, Michelle Visage, taking the celebrity Spectacle Wearer of the Year award and comedian Sue Perkins winning the prize for her Service to Specs, while Celebs Go Dating star, Tom Read Wilson, took the Best Newcomer award.

The event raised £100,000 from award entries, sponsorship, ticket sales and luxury raffle with all proceeds going to Kidscape, bringing the total raised by Specsavers for the charity in the last 11 years to more than £700,000.