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West London Mehndi Artist Turns Starbucks Cup Win Into National Billboards
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News18•06-10-2026, 16:40
West London Mehndi Artist Turns Starbucks Cup Win Into National Billboards
- •Manii Basran, a 36-year-old lettings manager and mehndi artist from Ealing, won the Starbucks Illustration Club competition out of hundreds of entries across the UK.
- •Using a mehndi cone, she drew a freehand mandala design directly onto a Starbucks cup, taking inspiration from the circular shape of the Starbucks siren logo.
- •Her winning artwork was featured on outdoor advertising billboards across Great Britain as part of the prize, alongside a one-to-one mentorship with British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori MBE.
- •Basran plans to incorporate the exact same mandala design into her own wedding celebrations taking place later this month.
Key Questions Answered
The circular shape of the Starbucks siren logo reminded Manii Basran of a mandala, which inspired her to use traditional freehand mehndi techniques directly on the cup.
The judging panel included British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE, who also serves as a one-to-one mentor for Basran as part of her overall victory.
As part of the Starbucks Illustration Club campaign, Basran's winning design was featured on outdoor advertising billboards across Great Britain from September 14 to September 27, 2026.
