America’s Beauty Show (ABS) by Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) has announced the finalists for the first ABS Global Image Awards, which replaced the former CC STARS Photo Competition. The ABS Global Image Awards recognizes hairdressing talent on an international level. The photo entries represent the best of the best in original hairstyling, hair coloring and haircutting, in eight different categories.

“America’s Beauty Show is ecstatic about the industry reaction to our worldwide competition,” says Paul Dykstra, CEO of America’s Beauty Show. “We achieved our goal of having The ABS Global Image Awards portray the originality and talent in the professional beauty industry, no matter what corner of the world it is practiced.”

The ABS Global Image Awards Categories and Finalists are:

Avant Garde

• Chrystofer Benson, CBC Chrystofer Benson Collective, Ogden, UT

• Anne Veck, Anne Veck Salon, Oxford, UK

• Gonzalo Zarauza, Centro Beta, San Sebastián, Spain

ColorAmerica Colorist of the Year

• Chrystofer Benson, CBC Chrystofer Benson Collective, Ogden, UT

• Danielle Keasling, Salon Karma, Bluffton, SC

• Jake Thompson, Jake Thompson Creative, Salt Lake City, UT

Editorial

• Sal Misseri, Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

• Nikay Higgins, Kaizen Education, Denver, CO

• Montse Morella, Morella Hair Center, Sant Celoni, Spain

Haircutting

• David Barron, Barron’s London Salon, Atlanta, GA

• Chrystofer Benson, CBC Chrystofer Benson Collective, Ogden, UT

• Chrystofer Benson (2nd entry), CBC Chrystofer Benson Collective, Ogden, UT

Men’s Cutting

• Alex Azurmendi, Centro Beta, San Sebastián, Spain

• Michael Pavlick, Ladies & Gentlemen, Cleveland, OH

• Sal Misseri, Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

Salon Team

• Chad & Co, Englewood, CO

  • Artistic Team Members: Chad Cantu, Marietta Cantu, Andrew Solis, Brittany Abeyta, Giacomo Vanella

• Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

  • Hair Stylist: Kaizen Education; Haircolor: Sal Misseri, Grace Herrel; Make-Up: Jason Kelly; Photographer: John Rawson

• Modern Salon & Spa, Charlotte, NC

  • Owners - Arsalan & Arezo Hafezi; Lead Stylist - Nikki Lowery, Mae Mlo, Teresa Watkins, Amber Mccleland, Riley Vanfossen, Annie Gunthorpe, Sean Foley, Stephanie Whitley Treece

Texture

• Danielle Keasling, Salon Karma, Bluffton, SC

• Michael Jacobson, Michael & Michael, Chicago, IL

• Sydney Malizia, Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

Student / Young Professional

• Ashten Batterton, Innovations Design Academy, Canton, IL

• Gunny Hastings, Brown Aveda Institute, Cleveland, OH / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

• Milian Bonillo, Steven Papageorge Hair Academy, Chicago, IL

ABS Global Image Awards was 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. All entrees included up to three models with three different styles per category entry.

All categories were judged by an elite group of highly esteemed salon industry leaders, influencers and masters from across the globe: Luis Alvarez, Sonya Dove, Tracey Hughes, Vivienne Mackinder and Tony Rizzo.

The winner of each professional category will be announced at the exciting Beauty Changes Lives Experience on Sunday, March 26th at The Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to each category winner, one extraordinary multi-category talent will be presented The Leo Passage Gold Trophy in honor of the late Pivot Point founder and Cosmetologists Chicago member, Leo Passage.