ANYA HINDMARCH is today celebrating the ultimate validation: an entry in this year's Who's Who.

The beloved London handbag designer has made the esteemed cut for the first time for 2009, being named alongside the world's great, good and influential - among them, President Elect Barack Obama and 007 Daniel Craig, who also make their debuts in the 161st edition of the list.

"We often get asked why Who's Who doesn't include more sports people and celebrities. Our policy has always been that once in, you are never out," Rosanna Bortoli of Who's Who publisher A&C Black tells the Daily Telegraph. "This means that our editorial policy tends to reward people for years of hard graft or sustained achievement, rather than instant fame."