
Black Beauty Roster Hosts Beauty Expo Presented by SalonCentric in NYC
The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.
This past Sunday I had the privilege to judge a hair styling competition called Fashion Frenzy, where three teams had the chance to makeover an ordinary “client” into a fashion-forward professional. Take a look at these before and after shots!UPDATE: Check out shots from Fashion Frenzy Day 2!
This past Sunday I had the privilege to judge a hair styling competition called Fashion Frenzy, where three teams had the chance to makeover an ordinary "client" into a fashion-forward professional. The winner received a special photo shoot with Babak, a renowned fashion/beauty/hair photographer-(who was also a judge too!)
Here's who participated:
Analie Papageorge from Steven Papageorge Salon. Model: Donna Bautista
Donna Ross and Tracey Burnad from Salon 134. Model: Casie deSalvo
Meliss' Klabel and Lisa Knoxville from Meliss' Etc. Model: Angela Olson
The event took place on the main stage in the ballroom of the Mariott Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, IL. After everyone took their seats, Steve Reiss, MODERN SALON's Publishing Director, introduced each of the three models in the competition one by one. After each model graced the stage, the stylist(s) who did their makeovers talked about how they created their look. On the screen behind each model was their "before" shot, so the audience could see the changes made to each model.
I feel like each model had their own look. All were fashion-forward and it was extremely hard to decide who would be the winner. Judging was based upon hair, esthetics, nails, editorial quality and fashion. The scores were very close in the end. However, after the scores were tallied, we chose Donna Bautista, the model for Steven Papageorge Salon. All of the transformations were amazing. Take a look at these before and after shots!



Team 1:Meliss Etc'
Model: Angela Olson
Team 2: Salon 124
Model: Casie deSalvo
Team 3 (Winner): Steven Papageorge Salon
Model: Donna Bautista

After Shots in Order: Team 1, Team 2, Team 3(winner)
Photography by Babak

(From left to right) Steve Reiss, MODERN's Publishing Director; Lauren Salapatek MODERN's Associate Editor (Me); Model for Team 1, Model for Team 2, Model for Team 3, Babak
DAY 2:
MODERN's Editor in Chief, Laurel Nelson, and Babak judged nine student stylists on day two. The photos below show the winning team!

MODERN'S Editor in Chief Laurel Nelson announced the winning team!

Babak doing a photo shoot with the winning team.

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