Read about the Westminster Alumni Award finalists in this category and vote for who you think deserves to win. Voting closes at 11.59pm BST on Monday 20 July.
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Finalists
Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova (AIKO)
Music: Production, Performance and Enterprise BA, 2022
AIKO is a Czechia-raised, Brighton-based artist with a distinctive artistic identity centred on feminism, empowerment and visual storytelling, reflected in three studio albums and a rapidly growing global audience.
In 2024, AIKO represented the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest, earning international recognition for her dynamic performance and artistic vision. That same year, she completed a 24-date international headline tour with multiple sold-out shows and performed at major festivals including Sziget, SXSW and The Great Escape.
Her music has amassed over 14 million streams and has been featured in global television series such as Netflix’s Elite and Love Island UK, expanding her cultural reach beyond traditional music audiences. She also became the first Czech artist to appear on Times Square billboards as part of Spotify’s EQUAL campaign.
AIKO’s continued contribution to music demonstrates both artistic excellence and a meaningful, measurable impact on global arts and culture.
Cecilia Adriana Zoppelletto
Film and Television: Theory, Culture and Industry MA, 2014, and PhD, 2020
Cecilia Zoppelletto is a filmmaker, producer and academic working between Europe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. After completing a PhD focused on Congolese development film, she relocated to Kinshasa to contribute to the sector she had studied. At the Académie des Beaux-Arts, she established and leads the first structured cinema course within the Photography Department. In 2026, she was appointed Associate Professor, becoming the first female professor at the academy.
Alongside her academic work, she founded ZOPMEDIA, a production studio combining film production with the training of emerging Congolese talent. She serves on the board of APRO7, the DRC's largest filmmakers' association, and initiated the DRC Film Commission, which selects the country's official submission to the Academy Awards. Since 2023, she has also been a board member of African Film Festival, Inc., contributing to the New York African Film Festival at Lincoln Center.
Meg Molloy
Mixed Media Fine Art BA, 2011
Meg Molloy is the founder of Working Arts Club, a community of 1,200 arts professionals which increases access to the creative industries for people from working-class backgrounds. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a national network that champions inclusion, creates opportunity and challenges barriers within the sector.
Through networking events, partnerships and advocacy, Meg has built platforms where working-class talent can connect, thrive and gain recognition. Her work has contributed to a shift in the industry, opening pathways to employment and collaboration, while redefining who is seen, supported and valued within cultural spaces. Much of this has been self-initiated and sustained through unpaid labour, underpinned by a belief that the creative industries must become more equitable and properly resourced to nurture diverse talent.
Meg also engages with students and educational institutions on issues of class, access and systemic inequality, working towards more inclusive pathways into creative careers.
Weifu Li (Redli)
Global Media Business MA, 2022
LI Weifu (Redli) is a multi-disciplinary creative working across digital content, live comedy performance and music. She began as a video creator, building a global audience across Xiaohongshu, Douyin, TikTok, WeChat Channels and Bilibili, with over three million followers and viral videos reaching millions of views. Her short-form content centres on female empowerment, self-expression and cross-cultural connection.
Beyond digital media, she is also a stand-up comedian and emerging singer. She has performed over 100 stand-up shows across the UK, China and Bali, translating online narratives into live, cross-cultural experiences. Her original track Kiss Kiss Shy Shy has generated over 100 million streams, with its signature dance trend attracting over 100 million recreations across TikTok and Instagram.
She was invited to speak at TEDx, where she shared her journey of overcoming fear and inspired others to embrace their authentic selves. Li uses storytelling across platforms to create global cultural impact.