THE EVENT: The Sebastian Professional 2016 What’s Next Awards held at the at the Ice Palace Studios in Miami, Florida.
THE DETAILS: More than 400 salon professionals were there to cheer on and support the finalists from the What’s Next Awards categories who competed live onstage for the grand prize of styling backstage at NYFW Spring/Summer 2017 and styling a Sebastian-sponsored editorial photo shoot that will appear in MODERN later this year. Professional category finalist Damaris Earlewine, Affiliated Artist category finalist John-Paul Colombo and Student category finalist Safiya Aboaen were named winners in the competition for fearless style and artistic creation in their respective categories. Stylists created looks inspired by Sebastian Professional’s METAMORPHIK collection, representing unexpected extremes, consisting of two powerful but opposing raw elements. Inspired by nature at its most creative, Metamorphik ignites the power of self-expression allowing artist to change the state of hair and unlock new possibilities for artistry.
THE JUDGES: The competition took place in front of a live audience and a judging panel comprised of industry leaders, tastemakers and educators including Sebastian Professional Global Art Director Michael Polsinelli; Shay Dempsey, Sebastian Professional Global Art Director; Maggie Mulhern, MODERN’s Beauty and Fashion Director and Oliver Shortall, What’s Next Awards 2015 Professional Category Winner.
A GREAT SHOW: In addition to the live competition and awards, the evening showcased Sebastian Professional Design Team artists Anthony Cole, Daniel DiTommaso, Diva Poulos, Marylle Koken and Omar Antonio. The team of five offered breathtaking finishes with a power set of iconic looks, creative cuts and technical mastery while introducing Dark Oil.
THE LAST WORD: “The What’s Next Awards is a great reflection of the phenomenal talent that lives within the salon professional industry,” said Christina McCarver, Education Manager for Sebastian Professional. “The competition allows new and established artists to showcase their ability to create innovative, fearless looks that inspire stylists around the country. We congratulate the winners of this year’s competition as they continue to push their own boundaries to create What’s Next.”
Go to http://livestream.com/WellaDigital/SEBWNA2016 for a replay of the 2016 What’s Next Awards.
all professional photos by Adam Adolphus
Watch as the winners are announced:
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