Redhotcurry - Press Releases. Asian Internet Entrepreneur wins 'Jewel Award' 2005.

ASIAN INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR WINS 'JEWEL AWARD' 2005

Founder of www.redhotcurry.com, Mrs Lopa Patel, wins the Lloyds TSB 'Asian Jewel Award 2005' in the Media, Arts & Sports Category

Mrs Lopa Patel, founder of South Asian Lifestyle Portal, Redhotcurry.com won the coveted Lloyds TSB 'Asian Jewel Award 2005' in the Media, Arts & Sports category at a lavish ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, on Saturday 9 July 2005. The award is Lopa's second accolade in just two months - she was named 'Asian Woman of the Year 2005' in May of this year.

From its humble beginning as a small cookery site in 2001, Redhotcurry.com has become the leading lifestyle portal for British Asians, offering a recipe of news, entertainment, lifestyle articles and opinion pieces. It's the only female-owned Asian website, entirely self-financed, battling for equality within the community and fair representation outside of it. The site now attracts more than 40,000 unique users and several million hits each month.

The Asian Jewel Awards, now in their fourth successful year, celebrate the achievements of British Asian people in all walks of life. They are organized by the Institute of Asian Professionals and sponsored by Lloyds TSB.

Lopa said of the win, "I am ecstatic at being recognized with the Jewel Award. As it comes from the Institute of Asian Professionals, I feel that I am being honoured by a group of my peers.

The Award recognises the important role that the UK's 2.3 million South Asians play in the wealth, stability and culture of modern Britain and, more importantly, how technology can be used to unite this diverse ethnic community."

Lopa fended off stiff competition from other nominees including R&B singer Jay Sean, Britain's first premiership footballer, Zesh Rehman who plays for Fulham FC and artist Samiah Faridi. Lifetime Achievement Award winners at the Jewel Awards 2005 were actor Kabir Bedi who is currently starring in the West End stage musical 'The Far Pavilions' and Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur who is Britain's highest ranking Asian Police Officer.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS:

ABOUT REDHOTCURRY.COM

Redhotcurry.com is a celebration of Asian life in the UK with an informative collection of in-depth articles on race, culture, entertainment, religion, food, curry, ethnic fashion and beauty, all written with a South Asian perspective. The site covers news, views, money, business, entertainment, food and drink, health, style, sports and travel with interactive discussion groups, on-line chat, web based email and a comprehensive searchable UK South Asian restaurant directory. In 2004, Redhotcurry.com launched a shopping channel putting it line to become Britain's leading online Ethnic Goods Retailer.

ABOUT LOPA PATEL

Lopa is of Indian origin (Gujarati) but was born and brought up in Kenya (East Africa). Married, she is mother to a 7-year-old daughter, works full-time and lives in North London.

Her professional skills lie in marketing; direct marketing, database management, IT, and e-commerce. In 2004 she was elected as the first Asian Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM).

Lopa's interest in writing started at an early age - she started writing whilst at school and went on to edit the University Newspaper. She has contributed numerous articles to the marketing and direct marketing press between 1991 and the present. She is now Editor of Redhotcurry.com, writing on issues concerning UK Asians.

For further details contact:
Lopa Patel
Redhotcurry Ltd
01707 269 666
press@redhotcurry.com