Wednesday, May 9, marked a special day for Marie Claire. The magazine unveiled its inaugural Motherhood Issue, featuring a “Power Moms List” that recognized a cohort of seven women reshaping the narrative around parenting and leadership. To honor these inspiring moms, Marie Claire’s editor-in-chief, Nikki Ogunnaike, hosted an awards ceremony in partnership with Moms First.
The “Power Moms List” showcased the issue’s cover stars: actress and entrepreneur Gabrielle Union, singer-songwriter Kali Uchis, and actress, producer, and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone. Additional honorees included Bobbie co-founders Laura Modi and Sarah Hardy, attorney Cherelle Griner, and Creative Director and Head of Womenswear Design at J.Crew, Olympia Gayot.
Held at The Fifth Avenue Hotel, the star-studded soirée began with a lively cocktail hour, where guests mingled around silver platters of fresh margaritas and steak tartare. Afterward, attendees made their way downstairs to Café Carmellini for a dimly lit dinner, where Ogunnaike and Moms First founder Reshma Saujani kicked off the awards ceremony with a speech.
"At Marie Claire, we spotlight the women moving culture forward—and we know you can't tell the story of progress without telling the story of moms,” said Ogunnaike. “The Power Moms are a diverse group of actors, activists, business leaders, and musicians who, despite their different fields, have one thing in common: motherhood isn’t a limitation, it’s part of their legacy.” Ogunnaike also thanked the event’s esteemed partners: Carolina Herrera, Katie Kime, Glo2Facial, EltaMD, and PCA SKIN.
Saujani, who also served as guest editor of the Motherhood Issue, said: “Women are sold a false choice: be a tradwife or a girlboss. Choose your family or your ambition. But most moms will tell you—their reality is somewhere in the middle. At Moms First, that's exactly what we fight for every day: the cultural and structural support we need like paid leave, affordable childcare, and the ability to move in and out of the work force without penalty.”
After the opening remarks, the Power Mom honorees shared heartfelt experiences of motherhood and accepted their well-deserved awards, which featured an etching of Back Home, original art by Voltz Clarke Gallery artist Katy Ferrarone. The awards were provided by Bennett Awards
Later in the evening, guests indulged in plates of tortellini, sea bass, and chocolate ganache tart, while receiving gift bags filled with luxury products from Dagne Dover, Kaleidoscope Juice, MAM baby, and Bird&Be.
Scroll on for a glimpse inside Marie Claire's 2025 Power Moms event.
Reshma Saujani and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Gabrielle Union and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Reshma Saujani, Kali Uchis, and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Reshma Saujani, Nikki Ogunnaike, Olympia Gayot, and Sade Lythcott.
Cherelle Griner and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Nikki Ogunnaike and Michelle Buteau.
Hillary Kerr and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Abby Phillips and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Sarah Hardy, Reshma Saujani, and two other guests.
Alexis McGill Johnson, Sade Lythcott, Tarana Burke, Jodie Patterson, LaTonya Yvette, and Dee Poku.
Reshma Saujani, Jessica Wang, and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Reshma Saujani, Jessel Taank, and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Reshma Saujani, Rebecca Minkoff, and one other guest.
Nikki Ogunnaike and Tiffany Reid.
A glimpse inside Café Carmellini.
Reshma Saujani and Nikki Ogunnaike.
Reshma Saujani, Michelle Ruiz, and Andrea Stanley.
Olympia Gayot.
Cherelle Griner.
Gabrielle Union.
Reshma Saujani and her husband pictured among other guests at Café Carmellini.
