A senior citizen with a dream encouraged women to walk on a red carpet in a moment of celebration outside the Washington Mall yesterday.

Winifred Smith, 71, got the idea about a year ago after watching a video of someone else making people feel special in the same way.

She said: “I thought the red carpet idea would be something that will be good for 2026 to inspire and celebrate women.

“This is to celebrate women and everything they’ve contributed to their families, their jobs, their communities, the resilience and strength they’ve shown, the love and devotion.

“It’s just a time for women to celebrate themselves — the red carpet is not just for celebrities.”

Women passing by the mall’s Church Street entrance were initially reluctant to take part, but upbeat music and encouragement from Ms Smith and former Woman of the Year Patrina “Power Girl” O’Connor-Paynter eventually gave them confidence.

Ms Smith asked Ms O’Connor-Paynter to video the event, to which she gladly agreed.

Ms O’Connor-Paynter said: “I think everybody wants to walk down a red carpet but some people have been afraid to do so; but it’s a celebration of womanhood, and every woman is beautiful and deserves to be celebrated.”

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Rovonne Sampson and her friends walked the carpet individually and as a group.

She said: “It was very uplifting and felt empowering. Other women should come out to show off their resilience, strength and how hardworking they are, because every woman deserves to be celebrated.”

Another participant, Tanya Zuill, said: “I was scared to walk down at first, but I felt really good and strong when I did it.

“Women should come down and just enjoy this, because they are loved.”

Women who missed the event yesterday will have another chance to walk the red carpet outside Pier Six on March 6, ahead of International Women’s Day.

Ms Smith urged all women: “Don’t forget to celebrate you, because women deserve it.

“We tend to put a lot of focus on others, our families, our friends, our jobs, and I just want to remember that they deserve it too. The red carpet is not just for celebrities.”