Many gathered Magandjin / Brisbane on Monday for the 2025 Black Bold and Beautiful Luncheon; an event that continues to spotlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence in fashion, culture, and enterprise.

Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre after being postponed due to Cyclone Alfred, this year's theme 'Past, Present and Future' was woven throughout the day's program, which featured fashion parades, panels, music, and a vibrant business expo.

Now in its 13th edition, BBB was founded by Aunty Sandra King OAM in 2009 and continues to serve as a space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are celebrated and elevated.

Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman and BBB emcee, Karina Hogan, described the day as "inspirational" and praised the space BBB creates for celebration and connection.

"It's a place for Aboriginal women to be celebrated and elevated," she said.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, Black women, are the backbones of our community."

She said seeing so many Indigenous women gathered together in joy was a powerful reminder of community strength.

"Today is all about that… getting together and connecting and actually just saying we, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, know how to do joy and we know how to do it really well."

The day included two key panel discussions moderated by Gamilaroi, Barkindji, Ballardong and Whadjuk woman, Bianca Hunt.

The first panel, Past and Present – Indigenous Fashion Industry, featured renowned designer Linda Jackson and BBB founder Aunty Sandra King.

The second panel, Present and Future, included designers Briana Enoch (Jarawee) and Juanita Page (Joseph & James).

This year's theme, Past, Present and Future, was reflected in the fashion showcased throughout the event, with runway presentations by Jarawee, BW Tribal, Dreamtime Wear, Maara Collective, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Reppin' Nation and Red Ridge.

A standout moment was the launch of Jarawee's collection, which closed the show with striking headgear and a bold debut.

Founder Aunty Sandra King OAM, who launched BBB in 2009, said this year's edition was especially meaningful as she watched from the audience for the first time.

"For the first time, I actually sat down," Ms King said.

"The girls all said, no, we're all helping you and you're going to sit down.

"It went really well… I really felt relaxed about it."

Reflecting on the impact of the luncheon over more than a decade, Ms King said BBB has become a platform for healing and discovery for many First Nations women.

"It has helped our women who are survivors, those in business and those who are just trying to find themselves," she said.

"That's what it's all about and this event does it. It lifts their spirit up."

The event's longevity was shaped by community demand.

After a ten-year run that paused in 2018, Ms King was encouraged to bring it back by women who continued to call and ask for its return.

Since restarting in 2023, BBB has entered a new chapter of growth and momentum.

Ms Hogan said she had witnessed firsthand the evolution of Indigenous fashion through events like BBB and celebrated designers like Delvene Cockatoo-Collins who have gone from small beginnings to establishing city-based shops.

"I remember 10 years ago when I did an interview with Delvene over in Straddie," she said.

"She had just picked it up as a bit of a hobby and now look."

She said the fashion was just one layer of what BBB represents.

"Today wasn't just about fashion... it also wove through other elements," she said, pointing to Professor Creamer's keynote as one of the highlights.

"I've looked to people like Aunty Sandra Creamer to inspire me through adversity… That's what today is all about,," she said.

"It's about bringing that joy, bringing that energy. And knowing that we deserve to be here.

"We're not going anywhere."

Looking ahead, Ms King said BBB will continue to evolve.

Alongside the women's event, she has recently founded Black Bold Brothers, a new space designed to support men experiencing trauma.

"I'm not organising it," she said. "I set it up, but I have a committee of men who plan it and put it together."

For Ms King, the future of BBB lies in its ability to keep lifting up those who need it.

"It's all about our women in general. I wanted something that lifts our girls up."