Supermodel and fitness advocate Milind Soman, along with endurance runner and wellness campaigner Ankita Konwar, were recognised at the NDTV Who’s Next 2025 Awards for their sustained efforts in promoting fitness and preventive health across age groups.

At the ceremony, Soman was conferred with the Fitness Icon of the Year Award, while Konwar received the Millennial Fitness Icon Award, acknowledging their long-term influence on India’s evolving fitness culture.

According to a press release issued following the awards, the recognition highlights the duo’s consistent work in making fitness inclusive, accessible and relevant, especially for women. Their initiatives have focused not just on physical activity, but also on awareness, self-care and preventive health, resonating with both older and younger generations.

Speaking at the event, Milind Soman said fitness is rooted in everyday discipline rather than extremes. He noted that initiatives such as Pinkathon were conceptualised to make fitness approachable and to remind people, particularly women, to prioritise their health. He added that it was encouraging to see this journey and philosophy being acknowledged on a national platform.

Over the years, Soman has played a key role in shaping the fitness conversation in India by advocating consistency and long-term well-being. He is the founder of Pinkathon, India’s largest women’s run, launched in 2012 to encourage women to embrace fitness while also spreading awareness about breast cancer and preventive health.

The initiative has grown into a nationwide movement, reaching over half a million women across cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Pinkathon has also facilitated free breast screenings for thousands of women and raised more than Rs.1 crore towards the treatment of underprivileged cancer patients, while introducing first-time runners through inclusive formats such as the Saree Run, Grandmothers’ Run and Babywearing Mothers’ Walk.

The Fitness Icon of the Year Award recognises Soman’s impact in making fitness a lifelong habit across age groups and linking physical activity with awareness and self-care rather than short-term goals.

Ankita Konwar, who was honoured as the Millennial Fitness Icon, has emerged as a strong voice for mindful fitness and women’s health among younger audiences. Accepting the award, she said the recognition reflects a growing awareness among millennials about holistic well-being and the importance of listening to one’s body.

Konwar is the founder of Invincible Women, an ultramarathon and health awareness initiative launched in 2023 to encourage women to challenge both visible and invisible barriers to prioritising their health. Invincible Women’s Run is India’s first women-only ultramarathon, featuring endurance-based events ranging from 50 km to 100 km, and focuses on building physical resilience, mental strength and long-term wellness.

Together, the recognitions underline how both Soman and Konwar have contributed to creating a more inclusive and conscious fitness ecosystem in India, inspiring individuals across generations to view health as a sustained commitment rather than a fleeting trend.