Samson Okwera, Jordy Opper and Kristian Korkis take part in the live barbering competition as part of Lakeland College’s Border Beauty Showcase, held at the school in late March. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Lakeland College hairstyling and esthetician students have fashioned something beautiful.
The first annual Border Beauty Showcase was held in late March at the Lloydminster campus, featuring hair and esthetic competitions and a trade show.
“We’ve known for a long time that our region has many creative and skilled hair and esthetician artists.
“Today many of those artists will come together to showcase their individual talents and compete, while pushing each other to excel,” said Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Lakeland College president and CEO, at the outset of the showcase.
“Here at Lakeland we always strive to put our hands-on learning right at the forefront, and here’s a great opportunity to see just what our students can do,” she said, adding the day wouldn’t be possible without the students in the hair and esthetician programs who planned it.
Denna Koch and Grace Kitchen are the two students who took the lead in making the event a reality.
“I think my favourite part was getting to see all of the different industry professionals come together and work together as one, especially in the avant-garde, they all had one vision and it went together perfectly,” said Kitchen.
“And then just meeting all these different businesses and barbers and hairstylists and just asking about their journeys was really cool for me.”
Koch said she enjoyed watching some of the high school students immerse themselves into their world.
“It gives them the opportunity to show off their work, even if it’s not what they want to do with their life—it gives them that opportunity,” said Koch, adding she wishes it was around when she was in high school.
Another thing that she enjoyed about the day was being one of the MCs, and being able to announce some of the competition winners.
“Just being that person made me really, I don’t know how to explain it. You just see a different spark in people, it’s exciting. Being MC kind of kept me on my toes all day,” said Koch.
In the live barbering competition, Samson Okwera placed first, followed by Kristian Korkis, second, and Jordy Opper, third.
In the high school formal updo category Jayda Hill took the top spot, with Sophie Graham in second and Patience Littlewolfe, third.
In the high school formal makeup competition Ava White came in first, Tylar Clemence took second place, and Linnea Joy was third.
The avant-garde competition was a team effort, with 4-6 contestants in each group.
The top spot went to Samson Okwera, Emily Shepansky, Brianna Palmer, Glazia Capiral, Elizabeth Rody and Belle Ludu.
In second were Ellie Sears, Trysten Kuhn, Ilya Smirnov and Jalynn Machatis.
The third-place team members are Lauren Duke, Kamryn Noeth, Kammi Feland, Darby Wells, Hope Adamson and Sumiah Prill.
Koch said something that stood out for her was watching the judges and how they made their decisions.
“Even just looking at the judges who are in our industry and seeing what they’re looking for in a competition is also what they’re looking for in real life too,” she explained.
“It kind of gives you something to think about when you’re going out into the industry after school.”
Kitchen said she learned a lot about perspective at the showcase.
“I definitely learned how different everybody’s views are, and it’s the same thing but they have like 10 different views on the one thing,” said Kitchen.
“Each person sees something different. Which is why every salon isn’t going to be for you.”
Both students emphasized the tremendous teamwork that went into planning and executing the event.
Nearly 60 hair and esthetics students worked together to make it all happen.
“It’s very cool to have it here, especially since beauty and hair shows aren’t really big in Canada anymore,” said Kitchen.
