Applause echoed round the Guildhall as this determined former taxi driver gave the brightest smile.
Ms Lowe, 27, designed the hit Destination London and Destination Portsmouth board games, which allow players to act as cabbies trying to rack up as much cash as possible while picking up fares and avoiding pitfalls.
Judges praised the University of Portsmouth student for her combination of innovative development and drive.
Ms Lowe, of Wadham Road, North End, Portsmouth, stumbled upon the idea while working as a taxi driver for city-based AquaCars.
Her concept won her a first prize in the university's Enterprise Challenge 2003, a competition that highlighted student inventions.
She then used the £3,000 prize money to make a prototype and secure the rights to the game, which she developed through her company, the Portsmouth Technopole-based RTL Games.
The 18 months of hard work paid off as the London version hit top spot for toys over Christmas at London's Hamleys toystore and the Portsmouth version was a sell-out.
Ms Lowe, who is studying business and law, said: 'It's fantastic and it's been a long hard slog to get where I've got. It's great to be recognised for what I've done.'