Fashion and beauty shone bright at the Diet Coke Malta Fashion Awards 2009 at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, in Ta' Qali on Saturday.

Fashion shows included the winter collection by design duo Charles and Ron and Gozitan Caroline Hili, who works in Milan's design world and who made her local debut.

The spectacle continued with hair shows by nominated hairstylists, singers and DJs.

Organised by Unique Promotions and Fashion Studios, the innovative aspect was the intermingling of fashion and music, according to its director, Adrian Mizzi. Among this year's winners were Andrei Grech, male model, Martha Fenech, female model, Katryna Pavia, female photo model, Lara Steer from DSalon for hair, fashion photographer Kris Micallef, make-up artist Nicola Powell, and fashion designer Caroline Hili for the innovation and creativity award.

An extended red carpet gave that "Hollywood touch" to the night, which is expected to be aired on World Fashion Channel within a month but the date has not yet been set and the Maltese cannot see it unless a local service provider reinstates it in its package. The channel was stopped some four months ago, Mr Mizzi said.