back to Awards & NomineesThe Inspiration Awards - Dame Anita Roddick

(23 October 1942 – 10 September 2007)

Anita Roddick, was the founder of The Body Shop, a cosmetics company she started from her kitchen in Littlehampton. Anita’s vision of cruelty-free, ethically sourced beauty grew into a global phenomenon which shaped ethical consumerism. The company was one of the first to prohibit the use of ingredients tested on animals and one of the first to promote fair trade with third world countries.

But she didn’t stop there, constantly challenging business leaders to act with a social conscience. Anita was also involved in activism and campaigning for environmental and social issues including involvement with Greenpeace and The Big Issue. In 1990, Roddick founded Children On The Edge, a charitable organisation which helps disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Sadly, Anita was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis due to long-standing hepatitis C in 2004, she promoted the work of the Hepatitis C Trust, and campaigned to increase awareness of the disease.

In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Roddick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and she was officially styled Dame Anita Roddick DBE. Anita died in September 2007.