Months of planning, practicing on mannequin heads, taking the perfect photos, and working with vision has paid off for select entrants of America’s Beauty Show’s(ABS) renowned international competition this year. America’s Beauty Show and Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) are proud to announce the finalists of the third illustrious 2019 ABS Global Image Awards.

 Its most popular year ever, the ABS Global Image Awards drew in a massive number of competitors from across the globe. The competition celebrates the passion and artistry of professional and emerging stylists in a photo competition that features seven professional categories and two student categories. New this year is the School Team Avant Garde category, which celebrates a school’s rising talent. Images were judged on how well entrants executed new and unusual or experimental ideas on one model.

 “Entering the Global Image Awards allows stylists and students to embrace their creativity, build confidence and shoot for the moon,” says Karen Gordon, president of Cosmetologists Chicago. “The styles and looks we see from this competition are a representation of what’s trending around the world and what’s next in beauty. Congratulations to all of the finalists and to all of the extremely talented professionals who entered this year!”

 Winners in each of the professional categories will receive recognition during ABS, a trophy from CC, their images featured on americasbeautyshow.com and acknowledgment on social media. One grand prize winner will be presented with the Leo Passage Gold Trophy, honoring the late CC member and founder of Pivot Point Professional.

 The official winners will be announced in an exclusive presentation during America’s Beauty Show weekend, at the Beauty Changes Lives Experience on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at the Geraghty.

The ABS Global Image Award Finalists are:

Avant Garde:

David Barron, Barron's London Salon, Atlanta, GA Chris Vandehey, Style on 2nd, Portland, OR Mayte Garrote, Different Estilistas, Zamora, Spain

Avant Garde School Team:

Hannah Olenik, Kim Pilcher, Brynn Radke, Brown Aveda Institute, Litchfield, OH Kerbee Polenychko, Juana Acosta, Derek Brady, Darian Erickson, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Spirit Lake, IA Erin Wiktorowski, Ariana Henkel, Jayna Miceli-Spieker, Lauren Schenk, Brown Aveda Institute, Strongsville, OH

ColorAmerica:

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, South Weber, UT Greta Coston, Chrystofer Benson Collective, South Weber, UT Nick Stenson, Ulta Beauty, Bolingbrook, IL

Editorial:

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, South Weber, UT Danielle Keasling, Matrix, Bluffton, SC Jamie Wiley, Define Hair, Fort Meade, MD

Haircutting:

Evie Johnson, Bowie, MD Dorothy Tsang, BLUSHES, Ontario, Canada Ivan Rodriguez, El Salón Hairdressing Club, Chihuahua, Mexico

Men’s Cutting:

Antonio Calvo & Pedro Muñoz, Narón, Spain Carles Sánchez, Pelsynera, Barcelona, Spain Mio Sota, TRIO Salon, Chicago, IL

Salon Team:

Evie Johnson, Jamal Edmonds, Jada Jenkins, Yvonne Daily, Rochelle Hawkins, Mecia Anderson, Tiffany Green, Carlon Thompson, The Texture Collectives, Bowie, MD Greta Coston, Lenny Strand, Cory Hoffman, Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, South Weber, UT Silas Tsang, Dorothy Tsang, BLUSHES, Ontario, Canada

Student Champion:

Karen Franco, Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS Jalie Palko, Brown Aveda Institute, Lodi, OH Carly Post, Brown Aveda Institute, Mentor, OH

Texture:

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, South Weber, UT Shelly Devlin, The Water’s Edge, Derry, NH Jamal Edmonds, Lamaj in the City, Clinton, MD

 The ABS Global Image Awards is open to all licensed salon professionals and barbers or the business equivalent where licensure is not required. In addition, there is a category specifically for cosmetology students and young professionals. All entrees included up to three models with three different styles per category entry.

 For more information regarding the 2019 ABS Global Image Awards, visit www.AmericasBeautyShow.com.