A young eye specialist who restores vision to blind people has triumphed over a field of celebrities at a magazine awards honouring inspirational women.
Ophthalmologist Dr Katherine Smallcombe, 36, with the Fred Hollows Foundation, took top honours at the annual Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female awards at a lavish ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday night.
Now in its fourth year, the awards featured winners in 11 categories covering areas including radio, TV, sport, music, fashion, community and business. They were decided by Cosmopolitan readers with a record 237,000 votes being cast.
Pregnant radio star Jackie O, who has lost out to Kate Ritchie and Fifi Box in previous years, was the victor this time around, beating Nova969's Ricki-Lee Coulter and fellow Austereo presenter Charli Delaney.
Actress Esther Anderson clinched the TV actress award for the second year running, while TV personality went to The 7pm Project host Carrie Bickmore, ahead of Australia's Got Talent judge and new mum Dannii Minogue and MTV presenter Ruby Rose.
Singer Delta Goodrem regained the title she lost to Jessica Mauboy last year while fashion designer Bettina Liano won her category over Bec & Bridge and Sass & Bide.
Other winners included Zoe Foster (author), tennis star Samantha Stosur (sport) and Georgia Westaway (blogger). The entrepreneur title went to Jacqui Brown, who runs a fashion website promoting West Australian fashion, while comedian Emma Markezic was crowned rising star.
Dr Smallcombe, who triumphed over Oxfam youth worker Irene Banda and anti-sexual assault and domestic violence campaigner Nina Funnell, was not at the Opera House to collect her award, which was accepted on her behalf by Hollows' twin daughters Ruth and Rosa Hollows.
"It's very humbling to know that women out there, especially young women, are inspired by those who help others," Dr Smallcombe said in a note read on her behalf.
The awards were presented at a dinner at the opera house's Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant.
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