Shock. Complete shock.

You know how, at the Oscars, nominees go up on stage and look (or act) all totally surprised at winning the award, and you’re watching them thinking, ‘Puh-lease! You knew you were in the running for this award, how come you’re so surprised’?

Well I had that very surprised-Oscar-winner moment at the MPASA Pica Awards recently. What’s that? The national award ceremony which celebrates excellence in magazine publishing.

Your hip magazine won the award in the category Education, Health, Conservation, Safety and Security. What a delightful surprise – and what a great moment it was, walking up on stage to receive the trophy (and praying I wouldn’t trip up the stairs in front of thousands of people, including our MD).

But my real surprised-Oscar moment came when they announced that we had also won the most sought-after award of the evening: Customer Magazine of the Year!

Words really failed me, except for, ‘Wow!’

Hip2b2 is all about teamwork, so thanks to every single person who helped produce a mag we can all be proud of. And thanks to all of you hip stars, for living out that it’s truly hip to be square.