Mikhail Gorbachev Hosts the Second Annual Women's World Awards on November 29 in Leipzig, Germany

Mikhail Gorbachev Hosts the Second Annual Women's World Awards on November 29 in Leipzig, Germany

Award Winners Teri Hatcher, Donatella Versace, Benazir Bhutto, Catherine Deneuve and Linda Evangelista to be Honored in Celebrity Gala

VIENNA, Austria, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev will host the WOMEN'S WORLD AWARDS on November 29, 2005 in Leipzig, announces the World Awards Organization in Vienna. The former president of the Soviet Union and current president of the WORLD AWARDS will present awards in 10 categories to women of outstanding achievement during a glittering gala ceremony, sponsored by the SUPERFUND Investment Group.

Renowned international celebrities such as Rupert Everett ("My Best Friend's Wedding") and Christopher Lee ("Lord of the Rings") are expected to attend as speakers, in addition to other celebrities in this star-studded event.

The first award winners were announced today. They are:

+ "Desperate Housewives" Star Teri Hatcher to Receive the 2005 World Actress Award

The 2005 WORLD ACTRESS AWARD goes to Teri Hatcher, star of the internationally acclaimed "Desperate Housewives" TV series. This award marks the second major international honor for Ms. Hatcher this year following the Golden Globes.

"It is a great honor for me to be presented the award by Mikhail Gorbachev and also to be acknowledged with the World Actress Award at the Women World Awards Gala 2005," Ms. Hatcher said. "It is truly a privilege to be able to support all women's causes on a global level. It is remarkable that something as simple as television can empower us to create change and awareness in the world. I am blessed to be able to work at a job I love, and also give back in the most vital way -- to people in need."

+ Donatella Versace: 2005 World Fashion Award as Designer of the Year

The 2005 WORLD FASHION AWARD will be presented to Donatella Versace. Ms. Versace has achieved worldwide fame for her fashion label, even getting Madonna to serve as the ultimate promotional icon for the company. Ms. Versace is considered by her peers to be one of the leading fashion designers of our time. In addition to her business success, she has also been a model philanthropist, supporting various AIDS charities and bringing much needed public attention to the problems caused by this devastating disease.

+ Benazir Bhutto, Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Proved That Women Can Make a Difference in the Islamic World

The 2005 WORLD TOLERANCE AWARD will be presented to Benazir Bhutto, who, as prime minister of Pakistan became the first woman to head an Islamic country. Despite continued political turbulence, she was able to initiate important health and social reforms as well as improve the overall situation of women in Pakistan.

+ Linda Evangelista: A Style Icon for Millions of Women

She was one of the original "Supermodels" of the 1990s, and at 40 years old, continues to have that same magic today. Ms. Evangelista is still one of the most sought after faces in her profession. She will receive this year's 2005 WORLD STYLE ICON AWARD. The Canadian beauty impressed the fashion world with her spectacular campaigns for Chanel, Gianfranco Ferre, Versace and Christian Dior. She is also heavily involved with the AIDS foundation of the cosmetics group MAC, and gives her support to numerous other humanitarian projects.

+ Catherine Deneuve -- A Lifetime of Cinematic Excellence

Catherine Deneuve will be presented with the 2005 WORLD ARTS AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT in recognition of her illustrious career. Ms. Deneuve, one of the most important figures in French cinema, has performed in more than 100 films under the direction of visionaries such as Roman Polanski, Luis Bunuel, Francois Truffaut, and Lars von Trier. Over her four-decade-long career she stared in numerous timeless classics. She is also active in many charities and is a strong supporter of AIDS and cancer organizations, Amnesty International, as well as women's rights initiatives.

+ Lisa Stansfield -- Artistic Talent in Surplus

The 2005 World Arts Award goes to the English vocalist and multi-faceted artist Lisa Stansfield, whose remarkable career has been praised with numerous accolades and other awards. Ms. Stansfield won the Search for a Star competition when she was just 14 years old, and went on to star in television shows and record numerous number-one hits. This award recognizes her outstanding achievements in music and her inspiration role to women everywhere.

Additional awards will be presented to the following people: The Mothers of SOS Children's Village will be collectively honored with the 2005 WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARD for their incredible, selfless efforts to give children who have lost their parents or are no longer able to live with them a permanent home and stable environment. Painter and photographer Alison Lapper will be presented with the 2005 WORLD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Lapper, who was born without arms and shortened legs due to a medical condition known as phocomelia, has made many influential contributions to the art world, challenging society's preconceptions on motherhood and disability.

Further award winners will be announced in the coming days.

The WORLD AWARDS, established in Vienna in 2000 by best-selling Austrian author Georg Kindel and Former President Mikhail Gorbachev, is one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the world. Since 2004, extraordinary women in the arts, entertainment, fashion, and social causes fields have been honored for their accomplishments at a special gala event. Previous WORLD AWARDS winners include Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Douglas, Ted Turner, Simon Wiesenthal, Steven Spielberg, Bianca Jagger, Morgan Freeman, Dionne Warwick, HH Pope John Paul II, Christopher Reeve, Whitney Houston, Richard Branson, Larry King, Luciano Pavarotti, Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens, Christiane Amanpour, the New York Firefighters, Naomi Campbell, Robert C. Gallo and the Women of the Special Olympics.

+ SUPERFUND Investment Group as Presenting Partner

The WOMEN'S WORLD AWARDS 2005 are sponsored by the SUPERFUND Investment Group. With over 55,000 investors and offices in 12 countries, including the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Monaco and Austria, Superfund is one of the world's leading futures funds providers for private investors. Christian Baha, Founder & CEO, on Superfund's support for this prestigious event, says, "The WOMEN'S WORLD AWARDS is one of the most recognized honors in the world. As an international company, we are very proud to support the global recognition of women's extraordinary achievements."

The latest information concerning the WOMEN'S WORLD AWARDS can be found on the Internet at http://www.worldawards.com/

Source: The World Awards Organization

CONTACT: U.S. National Press Representative, Jeannette Boccini,
+1-212-499-6566, jeannette@lvmgroup.com, or James Kimer, +1-212-499-6571;,
james@lvmgroup.com, both of LVM Group Inc. for The World Awards Organization

Web site: http://www.worldawards.com/

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