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ONSTAGE: TROPHY WIELDERS
TROPHY WIELDERS
THE ANZ L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL STYLE & COLOUR TROPHY MOVED FROM A SEMI-FINAL GALA TO A DYNAMIC FINALS WEEKEND TO DECIDE THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION OF THE METAMORPHOSIS THEME, WRITES SHANNON GUSS.
Following an exhaustive search in this historic platform, the winner in the first ever Australian and New Zealand hub for L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy was announced for 2023 in a live online broadcast.
After a semi-final gala at The Star, Sydney, hosted earlier in August, the eight finalists were flown to Melbourne for a weekend of creativity and mentoring. The eight finalists created an entirely new look based on the dynamic Metamorphosis theme to decide the final winner. The looks for the final rounds showcased the bold, transformative power of the theme, running the gamut of creativity by exploring shape, texture and detail across the spectrum, as well as luminous colour courtesy of the L’Oréal Professionnel iNOA technology.
Congratulations to Rebecca Brent of Willis York in New Zealand who won with a bright pink, long and layered look and is the official ANZ L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy champion for 2023.
“I started to think about creating a meta-verse self. If you could have any style or colour you wanted, what would you do?” Rebecca said when asked about her original look and view on the Metamorphosis theme. “I wanted the image to feel otherworldly and innocent while also having a little nod to rebel punk and princess royalty. I am also obsessed with meta lilac colour backgrounds in the meta-verse so the colour was inspired by that. For my finale look, my original meta-verse girl has a more grown up vibe to her, it’s still ethereal but she’s more sure of who she is becoming.”
Second place was announced as Alicia Perruzza of Circles of Hair in WA, while third place was named as Chanel Beck from Koko Blaq, WA. Alicia’s brunette look has lightened red ends and a hero square shape on top, while Chanel inspired with intricate hair weaving details, soft balayage blonde colour and a unique shape.
“My look for the finals this weekend is definitely Avant Garde,” Chanel said while preparing. “Let’s just say it’s outside the box. I’ve changed the shape of my model’s head to give an alien-like illusion. For the colour, I was inspired by the WA pink sunset sky. She’s beautiful and bold!”
“My look was inspired by shape, square shapes specifically,” Alicia added. “I absolutely love cutting men’s hair and wanted to incorporate the sharp precision of a flat top but still with a feminine edge.”
Announced in a live broadcast aired via L’Oréal ACCESS and marie claire, Australia and New Zealand viewed behind the scenes videos of the finalists creating their look and the incredible before and after transformations. Additionally, L’Oréal Professionnel Education Manager Karen Strano chatted on the couch with the judges, who offered their advice and perspective on this unparalleled opportunity. Last year’s national and global winner Claudia Cataldo and the 2022 global bronze medallist Kelly Manu, as well as leading hairdressers Damien Rinaldo, Daren Borthwick, Adriana Marmino, Sarah Laidlaw and Matt Clements, and Sally Hunwick of marie claire, shared their insights as judges on the night.
The evening also paid tribute to other platform winners. Finalist Fiona Fazzalari of Hair Machine Glenelg won the Audience Award as decided by public voting for her original look. Congratulations to Rebecca, Alicia, Chanel and Fiona, as well as the other talented finalists – Kate Clark of Ink for Hair in Queensland, Amy Gaudie of Urban Chic in Queensland, Rose Cain of Head Studio, WA and Terrina Brown of Zedz Hair, WA – for their immense creativity.
Before the finals weekend, the brand congregated the hair industry at Sydney’s The Star to announce those 2023 Style & Colour Trophy finalists for Australia and New Zealand. The evening was hosted by brand ambassador Ellie Gonsalves.
Throughout the gala event, attendees heard from a range of brand speakers about the significance of the competition format. They also learned about L’Oréal Professionnel’s new brand cause initiative – Head Up, a cause focusing on hair professionals’ mental health by raising awareness and providing free accessible resources made available on L’Oréal ACCESS. Amongst the speakers, the last three global winners, Wendy Gunn, Massimo Tirimacco and Claudia Cataldo, who currently hold a historic international hat-trick for Australia in the international competition, discussed the power of what the title has done for their business and careers.
With those results as fitting motivation, category winners were named throughout the night, and later acknowledged as well in the finals event. Congratulations to the winners in the dynamic new categories. Kate Clark was named as iNOA colour winner, Chanel Beck was the Newcomer winner and state People’s Choice winners were announced as Kate Clark for QLD, Chanel Beck for WA, Fiona Fazzalari for SA/TAS, Crystal Wood of Wood & Wills for NSW, Prue Taylor of Lady and the Hair for VIC and Mathias Te Moananui of Buoy Salon & Spa for New Zealand.
At the gala, beyond the winner announcement and important speeches, the evening showcased true hair art in the form of four hair shows, which translated the Metamorphosis competition theme in a seasonal lens. Created by the L’Oréal Professionnel ANZ Artistic Team and competition judges, a series of runway shows displayed bold, architectural hair looks pertaining to the seasons, from bright, vivid Summer sunrise hues to foliage, trees and evocative shrubbery resembling the woodlands in Autumn, to florals and pastels, often woven into the hair looks, for Spring, and finishing with dark, brooding ice queens in Winter.
Congratulations to all the artists who created the shows, including Scott Sloan, Jordan Hone, Brodie Lee Tsiknaris, Robert Bava, Rebecca Brent, Sky Srisukpolluck, Peter Thomsen, Mathias Te Moananui, Tiffany Decaux, Melissa Gesualdo, Karen Bava, Damien Rinaldo, Masssimo Tirimacco, Danielle Solier, Jamie Furlan, Adriana Marmino, Sarah Laidlaw, Daren Borthwick, Matt Clements, Joe Cotroneo, Karlie Roberts, Kelly Manu, Claudia Cataldo and Amy Connolly. Beauty looks were led by makeup director Madeleine Tirimacco, with makeup via makeup brand partner, the L’Oréal Luxe Division. Hair extensions were thanks to event partner Amazing Hair Australia.
The night included a red carpet entrance where guests mingled and the semi-finalists were interviewed in front of the media wall, as well as an after party to celebrate the wins of the evening. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal and final performance from musical legend Marcia Hines who ushered in the dancing and frivolities worthy of this sensational night and event at large.
Congratulations to Rebecca, the category winners, the finalists and entrants for propelling creativity through the historic platform. For more information visit www.lorealprofessionnel.com.au
