The Event
The fifth-annual Beauty Changes Lives (BCL) Experience, March 26 at the Art Institute of Chicago, was an inspiration-filled night. Along with a striking runway presentation from NextGen artist teams and a heartfelt tribute to an industry icon, the BCL Foundation received incredible news from 2017 Legacy Award winner Sydell Miller.

The Details
Announced during a VIP dinner honoring Miller was a generous gift from the Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Foundation to fund the development of beauty and wellness scholarships to be administered by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. The Millers' gift of $1,000,000 over a 10-year period will support new scholarships for cosmetology and esthetic students as well as licensed hairstylists, and expand the Miller family’s longstanding philanthropic legacy.

The Legacy Award given to the Millers recognizes icons whose careers display a commitment to professional beauty education. Past recipients include Vidal Sassoon, Tippi Hedren, Leo Passage and Howard Murad, M.D.

The Presentations
With news like that, the night was already set up for success when MODERN went behind the scenes for model prep. Teams of NextGen talent and brand mentors for American Crew, BaByliss Pro, CND, Matrix, Mizani, Pivot Point, Redken, TIGIandWella prepped models backstage for the runway presentation themed The Art of Prediction. 

Before the presentation got underway in the modern wing of the Art Institute, attendees at the sold-out BCL Experience paused a moment to remember an industry icon gone too soon, Fabio Sementilli. Several attendees were moved to tears as they watched a video tribute of Sementilli where he he laughed, created and shared his advice for growing as an artist and our community's responsibility to foster the next generation of talented artists. 

Sementilli's words were not forgotten as the work of the NextGen artists was showcased in a vibrant runway show. After the runway presentation, attendees had the opportunity to connect with some of the most passionate and gifted artists in the industry today, including Sam Villa, Larisa Love, Jamal Edmonds, Phillip Ringand more!

To learn more about the 2017 Beauty Changes Lives Experience, sponsors and Legacy Award winners, make sure to check out the Beauty Changes Lives Experience digital edition here.  And to see a video recap of MODERN's interviews with industry icons and leaders answering, "What is your proudest professional moment?" click here.  

The Last Word
“We are happy to witness the growth of this annual industry event and support the Beauty Changes Lives Experience as the signature Sunday-evening event at ABS 2017,” said Paul Dykstra, CEO of America’s Beauty Show. “We are also honored to recognize and celebrate the tremendous legacy of Sydell and Arnie Miller.”