We're Winning! Marie Claire Racks Up the Awards

Earlier this week, Marie Claire was named Magazine of the Year at the Accessories Council of Excellence Awards. The Accessories Council recognizes work by designers, retailers and magazines that create a positive impact on the year's accessory consumption. Lauren Bush Lauren presented Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Coles (pictured here) with the prestigious award.

At this year's Exceptional Merit in Media Awards presented by the National Women's Political Caucus, Marie Claire had three stories win in the Exceptional Magazine Story category. Our former editor-at-large Abigail Pesta was recognized for her work on "An American Tragedy," the story of Noor Almaleki, an Iraqi-American woman who was killed by her Iraqi-born father for disobeying his request for her to marry a man of his choosing. Pesta was also awarded for "Diary of an Escaped Sex Slave," which profiled Sreypov Chan, a young Cambodian woman who was forced to have sex with hundreds of men before the age of 10. Writer Ralph Blumenthal won in this category as well for his story, "Still Waiting After All These Years," about the alarming number of untested rape kits in America.

Marie Claire also took home an award at the 2011 Front Page Awards presented by the Newswomen's Club of New York. The club honors women journalists from the New York area. Erin Zammett Ruddy won the Magazine Essay category for her story, "My Great Escape," which recounted how ESPN exec Keri Potts escaped her would-be rapist while traveling in Italy.

The Accessories Council is a non-profit organization established to promote consumer awareness and demand for fashion accessories. The National Women's Political Caucus is dedicated to increasing women's participation and equality in the political field. The Newswomen's Club of New York was established in 1922 and seeks to support women in journalism.