At the 2015 Long Beach International Salon and Spa Expo, Alyssa Brasket from Vancouver, WA grabbed the American Crew All-Star U.S. Winner title. Come April, Brasket will take her tools and travel to Rome to represent America in the American Crew Global All-Star Challenge, a photo and styling competition that combines the art and science in men's grooming and fashion: the cut, the model and the photographer, and brings it all together to deliver each finalist's interpretation of the American Crew man. 

MODERN spoke to Brasket about what it means to compete, to style and to win.

"This is the first time I've entered the American Crew Challenge," Brasket says. "In our barbershop, The Barbers, we had an internal challenge, first, to see who would submit to the competition. There are 24 stylists and we had to create a video of our work to be judged.  Going through this process really makes you understand more about yourself as a hairstylist. It showed me how much I love what I'm doing and showed me that I'm on the right path and I want to keep on going."

Brasket was chosen to move forward and create an entry. She drafted the best-man at her wedding to be her model and she styled a classic pompadour. This photo took her further along, to the semi-final stage, and to Milk Studios in Los Angeles, CA where American Crew founder David Raccuglia worked with the stylists to shoot their entry. 

"It was amazing to be there with David," Brasket says. "He really wanted us to be comfortable and he encouraged us to step in and fix something or to make adustments if we suddenly had an 'ah-ha' moment."

Her winning image she describes as a mix of James Bond and Frank Sinatra. She did clipper-over-comb and some feather razor work on top.

What does Brasket like about working with gentlemen? "Every day before I start work, I page through men's magazines and the American Crew Look Book," Brasket says. "If I present something to a guy, they are more likely to say , 'go for it.'  They are more willing to try different things and to hear me when I make suggestions. If you educate them on how to use product, to create volume with a round brush, or give them a little neck massage, they will be your client forever."

Follow @AmericanCrew for updates and to cheer for Brasket as she represents America in Italy. For more information about American Crew, visit www.americancrew.com.