Our story · 3 min read
Yana is Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 at the Local Hero Awards
By Aarti Solanki · Updated
The short answer
Yana Solanki, founder of Yani Beauty, was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Local Hero Awards 2026. She started the brand at five years old from a hospital bed, and this award recognises six years of hand-made, honest skincare built one small batch at a time.
- Yana won Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Local Hero Awards 2026.
- She started Yani Beauty at five, making lip balm with her mum Aarti in hospital.
- It is her third recognition after a Prestige Award 2025 and Highly Commended at the SHE Awards 2026.
- Yana is also an ambassador for We Can Be, the UK youth entrepreneurship community.
The moment her name was called
Some moments in life leave you completely speechless, and this was one of them. Standing alongside such incredible individuals, each with their own inspiring stories, was already an honour. To hear Yana's name announced as the winner was a moment we will treasure forever.
Watch the moment on Instagram: instagram.com/reel/Deo49wVCRtn
From a hospital bed to the red carpet
As her mum, watching Yana grow through this journey has been the greatest privilege. She was five years old, recovering in hospital, when she asked if we could make our own lip balms. Every balm on the shelf had failed her cracked, bleeding lips, so we researched gentle, natural ingredients together and made our first one at home.
That first balm became Plain Jane. Six years later, Yani Beauty is a full natural skincare range, still hand-poured in small batches in the East Midlands, and Yana is eleven and standing on a red carpet holding a Winner board.
Thank you
To everyone who has supported Yana and her journey with Yani Lipcare and Yani Beauty, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Every order, every kind message and every recommendation to a friend has carried us here.
And to anyone discovering Yana's story for the first time: this is just the beginning.
Recognition so far
The Local Hero Awards win joins two earlier honours for Yana and the brand.
- Local Hero Awards 2026 - Winner, Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- SHE Awards 2026 - Highly Commended, Beauty and Wellness
- Prestige Awards 2025 - Winner, Natural Skincare in the Midlands region
- We Can Be - ambassador for the UK youth entrepreneurship community
Questions people ask
What award did Yana Solanki win in 2026?
Yana was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Local Hero Awards 2026, recognising her journey building Yani Beauty from the age of five.
How old is Yana and how did Yani Beauty start?
Yana is eleven. She started the brand at five, from a hospital bed, when she asked her mum Aarti to make a gentle lip balm after every shop-bought option failed her cracked lips.
Where can I watch the awards moment?
The announcement was shared as an Instagram reel on the Yani Beauty account: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Deo49wVCRtn/
Shop the products in this guide
Learn more about Yana and Aarti’s mother-and-daughter story, then explore the products below.
