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The Travelista Wins Highly Commended at the Cosmo Blog Awards 2014

10/10/14 ᛫ 27 Comments

Tuesday 7th October was a date I have had marked in my diary for months. This was also the case for 150 other bloggers from the UK and around the world, who had all also been shortlisted to WIN a Cosmo Blog Award 2014. This group of 150 bloggers had been whittled down from a staggering 46,500 blogs, outdoing last year’s figure of 43,000. Needless to say, even to be shortlisted is a huge achievement. I was honoured to make the cut into ‘Best Travel Blog’ category for a second year running and over the moon to scoop the award for Highly Commended Travel Blog.

the-travelista-jess-gibson-cosmo-blog-awards

Dress: Matthew Williamson Bag: Mulberry Shoes: Next

 6.00pm – En Route

I made my way to the awards with my friend Sophie from The Part Time Vegan, who was nominated in the Food Blog category. It was Sophie’s first year at the awards so I was giving her a run down of the event as we approached the Oxo Tower in our taxi. The more I spoke about it the more the butterflies built up in my stomach and a mixture of excitement and nerves kept me slightly on edge!

Cosmo-Blog-Awards-The-Travelista-Jess-Gibson

6.30pm – The Arrival

With white walls, on-brand pink uplighting and rather hunky bar men, the long room within the Oxo Tower had officially been Cosmo-fied! The backdrop of The River Thames and St Pauls Cathedral was the perfect setting to hold the Cosmo Blog Awards and made for a great photo op. After checking our names off at the door, we were welcomed with a glass of champagne. Even though we arrived bang on time, the room was already swarming with immaculately dressed ladies (the dress code was ‘dress to impress’ and bloggers don’t do things by halves!)

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Cosmo-Blog-Awards-The-Travelista-Jess-Gibson-10

7.00pm – Mingling 

Unlike last year, there were quite a few familiar faces  of bloggers who I had met the previous year including Nic from Nics Nutrition, Megan from ThumbelinaLillie and Hannah from HannahLeigh Vlog. I was also looking forward to seeing Kirsten from Kirst Over The World, a fellow Travel Blog shortlisted who I had met this Summer at Blogstock. I also had the pleasure of meeting some amazing new bloggers such as Louise from Style Me Curvy.

cosmo-blog-awards-2014-group-shot

8.00pm – The Awards Ceremony & Winning Highly Commended!

This year the event extended into a different room for the Awards Ceremony. Lines of chairs with a central aisle faced a stage with projection screens and an easel. As we took our seats for the ceremony, the nerves started to build again. Cosmo Editor-in-Cheif Louise Court and Digital Editor Kate Lucey took to the stage and began to present the awards.

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When my name was read out as the Winner of Highly Commended Travel Blog, I was in absolute shock and totally over the moon! Seeing my blog logo flash up on all the screens was totally surreal and I felt my stomach drop as ‘The Travelista’ was read out. I went up to get my award and posed for a photo with Louise, Kate and the Thomson Holidays team. I couldn’t stop smiling, it felt absolutely amazing.

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9.oopm – Celebrate!

To top it all off, my friend Sophie also received Highly Commended in the Food Blog category too, so we were celebrating for 2! The Pinky Vodka cocktails at the bar (including the famous Cosmopolitan of course) were delicious and for some reason tasted even better as soon as we were celebrating! Never one to miss a photo opportunity, we messed around taking photos in the Instagram frame and agains the Cosmo Blog Awards back drop. jess-gibson-travelista-cosmo-blog-awards3 jess-gibson-travelista-cosmo-blog-awards2

9.30pm – My Interview with Thomson Holidays

After winning the award the lovely people from Thomson Holidays asked if they could interview me for their blog. Of course, I willingly obliged! It’s always great to get exposure with travel companies, particularly when they are as loved as Thomson. You can check out my full interview with Thomson Holidays here. Along with Thomson, there were plenty of other fabulous brands in attendance, inviting bloggers to sample their products. I particularly loved Seekers of The Sun, who glitzed me up with a metallic transfer tattoo. I think they’re gorgeous and can’t wait to get some more for my travels to Malaysia later this month. cosmo-blog-awards-travelista-thomson

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10.00pm – Goodiebag and Home Time

To top it all off, all the bloggers on the night were given a Cosmo goodie bag PACKED with gorgeous products to try. After picking up the goodie bag last year, I knew they were well worth sticking around for! So I made my way home with a Cosmo Award, a goodie bag and an immense feeling of pride for receiving blogging recognition from the women’s glossy that I have devoured every month for nearly 10 years. I created The Travelista just 19 moths ago, and when I first heard about the Cosmo Blog Awards, winning one seemed like a distant dream. But I put my mind to it, worked my ass off and believed in myself (if you don’t, then nobody will). So if you are an aspiring blogger reading this, just remember that if I can do it, so can you!

Thank you to all of my readers and fellow bloggers that voted for me in the Cosmo Blog Awards 2014. Your support is so appreciated and I absolutely love you all stopping by to comment. If you enjoyed this post, please leave me a comment at the bottom of this page! Jess xx

Cosmo-Blog-Awards-The-Travelista-Jess-Gibson5 Cosmo-Blog-Awards-The-Travelista-Jess-Gibson8 jess-gibson-travelista-cosmo-blog-awards4

27 Comments

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Comments

  1. Latravelera says

    9th March 2015 at 11:11 pm

    An inspiration for us, well done!
    http://www.latravelera.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. Virginia says

    6th November 2014 at 8:37 am

    I meant to say this before but a huge well done!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      10th November 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks lovely 🙂 see you soon x

      Reply
  3. Catch52 says

    4th November 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Wow 🙂 well done! You look beautiful in that dress! Another follower gained x

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      10th November 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Hi Catch52… thank you so much for your lovely comment 🙂 x

      Reply
  4. jessgetsaround says

    16th October 2014 at 10:03 am

    Huge congratulations to you!
    You must be over the moon!
    Amazing achievement an you look bloody amazing in the pictures! Well done. X x

    Reply
  5. Taylor Hearts Travel says

    15th October 2014 at 2:20 pm

    Congratulations, lovely! I knew you’d get there this year. 🙂 I still think you should get into the fashion categories too!

    Big, big well done. Hopefully see you again soon so we can have a celebratory drink. xx

    Reply
  6. Ayla says

    15th October 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Well done lovely lady! Thoroughly deserved! We will have to meet up again soon so you can celebrate again 🙂

    Reply
  7. Tink Jayne says

    14th October 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Congrats hun! I spotted you there and fell inlove with your dress 🙂
    x tink x
    allabouttink.co.uk

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      14th October 2014 at 7:28 pm

      Hey Jayne, thanks for your comment! Aw wish I could have got to meet you at the awards! Hopefully we will both be there next year 🙂 x

      Reply
      • Tink Jayne says

        15th October 2014 at 12:35 pm

        Fingers Crossed x

        Reply
  8. LoveandLimoncello says

    13th October 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Congratulations, such an amazing achievement. Ps your Matthew Williamson dress is to die for.

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      14th October 2014 at 8:29 am

      Hey! Thanks for your kind comment! 🙂 I was paranoid about ruining the dress but definitely made me feel special for the occasion! Please drop by the blog again soon 🙂 x

      Reply
  9. Anna Roberts says

    13th October 2014 at 5:27 pm

    Congratulations! Amazing news. And I love the dress! Definitely dressed to impress x

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      13th October 2014 at 6:21 pm

      Thanks Anna! Always love an excuse to wear something a bit OTT 🙂 Hope you are enjoying life back up North – I love London but miss it from time to time! xx

      Reply
      • Anna Roberts says

        13th October 2014 at 7:48 pm

        Thanks I am 🙂 Although I’m the opposite to you now – love it here but miss London from time to time! X

        Reply
  10. asthaguptaa says

    13th October 2014 at 9:55 am

    Congratulations!! Loving your blog 🙂

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      13th October 2014 at 2:49 pm

      Thanks so much 🙂 Please visit back soon and keep reading 🙂

      Reply
  11. Angie SilverSpoon (@SilverSpoonLDN) says

    10th October 2014 at 9:11 pm

    Congratulations and you look fab!!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      11th October 2014 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Angie, thanks so much! I am a very happy blogger this week 🙂 x

      Reply
  12. Packing my Suitcase says

    10th October 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Congratulations Jess 😀 so happy for you, well deserved!!!! Maybe one day I can do it too 😀 enjoy your award and keep celebrating!!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      10th October 2014 at 3:43 pm

      Thanks so much! Of course you can, why not? Such a great platform to get your blog known. Go for it and maybe see you there next year! :)x

      Reply
      • Packing my Suitcase says

        10th October 2014 at 4:51 pm

        You’re welcome Jess!!
        Ohh well, lets see!! But this one is only for the UK right? 😀

        Reply
        • thetravelistablog says

          13th October 2014 at 2:50 pm

          Hi there, yes I believe it’s for UK bloggers for the travel category but they do have some international categories for beauty and fashion so watch this space 🙂 x

          Reply
          • Packing my Suitcase says

            14th October 2014 at 10:09 am

            Thank you 😀

Trackbacks

  1. The Travelista Blog Celebrates its 2nd Birthday! | The Travelista says:
    17th March 2015 at 12:26 pm

    […] at first you don’t succeed try and try again’. This is my motto with the illustrious Cosmo Blog Awards. I was first shortlist for a Cosmo Blog Award in 2013 after just 4 months of blogging. When I found […]

    Reply
  2. The Travelista’s 2014 Blog Report | The Travelista says:
    9th January 2015 at 10:44 am

    […] was a monumental year for The Travelista. I won a Cosmo Blog Award and travelled to 16 destinations and 6 new countries throughout the year. It was so exciting to see […]

    Reply

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Jess is an an award-winning travel blogger based in Yorkshire, navigating the world as a new Mum to baby Theo. Blogging about adventures both local and global.

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(Ad - press invite) Me and my boy 💓 I hope ever (Ad - press invite) Me and my boy 💓 I hope everyone had a lovely early May bank holiday. Ours has included an incredible meal at @billsrestaurant in York to try out their brand new menu. Swipe for some serious #foodporn 👉🏼

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