GRAMMY-Nominated R&B Singer Melanie Fiona and Jewelry Designer Kristin Hanson Recognized With VIVmagnificent Woman Awards

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAMMY-nominated Singer Melanie Fiona and jewelry designer Kristin Hanson were recognized last night by VIVmag with VIVmagnificent Woman awards for their humanitarian and entrepreneurial accomplishments.  Both women received their awards during a presentation at the "Shop for a Cause" fete at the Bally Flagship Store in Manhattan.

Launched in July of this year by VIV Publishing LLC, a leading women's luxury and lifestyle brand, and the home of award-winning magazine VIVmag, the VIVmagnificent Woman award is designed to recognize well-deserving and inspirational women from around the world for their accomplishments in business and non-profit.  The program enables community connections within the VIVmagnificent Woman network with other amazing women.

Melanie Fiona emerged as one of 2009's finest new breakout stars, with the release of her critically acclaimed album, The Bridge.  The album's chart-topping ballad, "It Kills Me," sat on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for nine weeks and earned Fiona her first GRAMMY nomination in 2010 for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. The iTunes Best New R&B/Soul Artist of 2009 is now prepping to release her second album, The MF Life for SRC/Title 9/Universal Motown next week on Oct. 25.  In addition to music, Fiona has a passion for fashion: she was the face of Jay-Z's Rocawear's Fall 2010 campaign, and was featured in the Spring 2011 national ad campaigns for UK-based retailer NEXT.

Jewelry designer and educator Kristin Hanson's transformative, luxuriant designs won her the 2007 Couture Awards as one of America's top designers.  In 2006, starting out with one bench in her Brooklyn apartment, Kristin Hanson founded the Fine Jewelry School, the fastest growing international school of its kind.  In partnership with Aksyon, the school is building a program dedicated to evolving commerce in the luxury market by sponsoring talented students from Haiti to participate in a global luxury brand.

"The VIVmagnificent Woman program aims to recognize successful women from all walks of life and also spark inspiration in other women to go after their dreams," said Jeanniey Mullen, Chief Marketing Officer, VIVmag. "Both Melanie and Kristin have found success and fulfillment by following their instincts and passions – the definition of what it means to be a VIVmagnificent woman."

Previous recipients of the VIVmagnificent Woman Award include: Garcelle Beauvais, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur; Hope Frank, digital visionary and Webtrends CMO; Renata Watson McGriff, founder of CareTALK LLC and an expert voice in the mobile healthcare industry; Tracy Wilson Mourning, a mentor, designer, broadcast journalist, motivational speaker, mother and wife to NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning; and Susan Szudar, founder and creative director at Sol Inspired.

For more information on the VIVmagnificent Woman program, to browse and connect with recognized recipients, or to submit a magnificent woman nomination, please visit: http://www.vivmagnificentwoman.com/home.cfm

About VIVmag

VIVmag is a leading women's luxury lifestyle media brand designed to enable women to celebrate their magnificence. VIVmag's core product is its all-digital, highly interactive magazine which delivers reliable, accurate and inspirational journalism in areas that impact every woman's life: fashion, beauty, fitness, wellness and nutrition. VIVmag entertains and informs, helping women achieve the confidence that comes from engaging life at a higher level — from interactive exercise demonstrations to point-and-click purchasing power right from its pages.

VIVmag has attracted a circulation of 350,000 of the world's most influential women. To learn more about VIVmag, please visit www.VIVmag.com.

SOURCE VIVmag