Mary J. Blige, nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, producer and actress, will receive the first annual “Positively Beautiful,” Award from HBA Global Expo on Tuesday, September 15th at the Javits Center in New York. Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter will present the award to Ms. Blige as part of HBA’s Keynote and Kick-off Presentation starting at 8:55 a.m. HBA Global Expo is the largest product development event for the cosmetic, fragrance, skin care, personal care, and well-being industries.

The Positively Beautiful Award was established to annually recognize a person who has had a positive and inspiring influence on the lives of the very people who are customers of HBA’s many attendees and exhibitors. Ms. Blige, who has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, is the co-creator of The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN). The mission of this significant philanthropic undertaking is to help women gain the confidence and skills necessary to reach their full individual potential.

“Mary J. Blige has influenced and inspired millions of people with her music and talent, but it is her work through FFAWN that will help women find their ‘inner beauty’ and confidence to succeed in this world,” said Jill Birkett, event director of HBA Global Expo. “We are extremely proud to present Ms. Blige with the first ‘Positively Beautiful’ award and recognize the beauty of her commitment to the empowerment of disadvantaged women.”
Since her career began in 1992, Ms. Blige has had a multitude of success and began 2009 with a Grammy win for “Growing Pains’ in the category Best Contemporary R&B Album. She is currently working on a new album, which will be released in late 2009, and will soon be seen playing a nightclub manager and singer in Tyler Perry’s next movie “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” which will open on September 11, 2009. Her new fragrance “My Life” with Carol’s Daughter will launch in 2010.

Prior to the Positively Beautiful Award presentation to Ms. Blige, Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Intelligent Nutrients and Aveda will deliver a keynote address on the naturals and organics beauty and personal care market. Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter and Jani Friedman of the Demeter Group will follow with a preview of their HBA Marketing session on “The Next Big Trend: the Ethnic Market Driving Sales in the Beauty Space.” Ms. Price will then present the Positively Beautiful award to her colleague and friend, Mary J. Blige.

To register for HBA Global Expo or for more information go to www.hbaexpo.com.