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← Back to IdeasDove and Ogilvy UK's 'Real Beauty' Honored with Grand Prix at Cannes Lions

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, NEW YORK, NY – On the fourth day of the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Ogilvy and Dove’s longtime partnership was recognized with a Grand Prix in Creative Strategy — Long-Term Brand Platform for “Real Beauty”. In addition, Ogilvy’s global creative network earned 4 Silver and 8 Bronze Lions on Thursday, upping its Festival total to 80 thus far.
For over two decades, Ogilvy and Dove have fundamentally redefined beauty with the enduring "Real Beauty" campaign, a powerful platform born from the revelation in 2004 that only 2% of women considered themselves beautiful. Led by Ogilvy UK with dozens of offices across the Ogilvy global network contributing over the years, "Real Beauty" helped transform a simple soap brand into a $7.5 billion power brand, according to Kantar, driven by the purpose of making women feel more beautiful every day. Through groundbreaking and iconic campaigns like the original "Campaign for Real Beauty" (2004), the visually striking “Evolution” (2006), the deeply moving “Real Beauty Sketches” (2013), and recent powerful statements such as “Reverse Selfie” (2020), “Courage is Beautiful” (2020), and "#TurnYourBack" (2023), the partnership has consistently shattered conventional beauty standards and driven significant social change. These efforts have not only fostered self-esteem among women and girls worldwide but have also firmly established "Real Beauty" as the gold standard for long-term marketing effectiveness in the industry.
Zoe Hamilton, Ogilvy’s Global Chief Strategy Officer for Unilever: “Twenty years ago, Dove decided it wanted to stand for something bigger in the world – simply put, to make more women feel beautiful every day and to challenge whatever gets in the way of that. This Grand Prix recognizes a platform that has been unwavering for two decades. The Campaign for Real Beauty built a brand and a business; it shaped culture and changed lives. This truly honors the conviction and passion of so many people within an incredible partnership that have championed a unified purpose every step of the way and it is our greatest privilege to be that partner.”
A selection of Ogilvy’s Cannes contenders can be viewed on Ogilvy.com and on the agency’s social media channels. Keep up with Ogilvy and Cannes-related news throughout the Festival by following us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #OgilvyCannes.
About Ogilvy
Ogilvy has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy over 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across more than 120 offices spanning 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Media Contacts: David Ford / david.ford@ogilvy.com
Kappie Kopp / kappie.kopp@ogilvy.com
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