She Wanted to Make Women Look Beautiful But She Had to Leave Her Country to Do It

Roya Falahi (@riri_roya) of Lake Forest, CA, is an Iranian immigrant who dreamed of uncovering women’s beauty and is one of the recipients of the 2019 Leo Passage NEXTGEN Scholarship. The scholarship celebrates the intersection of hair, fashion and artistry, while honoring the legacy of Leo Passage. Each winner will be celebrated during the 2019 Beauty Changes Lives Experience on April 19, during America’s Beauty Show.

From Dreamer to Achiever

Roya left Iran to pursue her American dream of becoming a fashion hairstylist. “I really wanted to uncover client’s hair and show their beauty, but Iran was not the right place for a woman to express herself with uncovered hair,” Roya noted in her application video. In America, Roya is inspired to pursue avant-garde fashion styles. “Helping my clients look and feel good makes me happy as my work empowers women,” said Roya.

Roya will travel to Chicago in April during America’s Beauty Show for a week of advanced education and a professional photo shoot.

About the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation: With a mission to elevate, educate and empower, Beauty Changes Lives is uniting the industry and building awareness of the extraordinary career opportunities in the beauty, wellness and massage therapy industries. Learn more at www.beautychangeslives.org