Judges Wowed by College Total Look Hair and Beauty Competition

Simone Ricketts, Kamola Jones and Waltham Forest’s Mayor, Councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor, 25/03/2009

The zebra look wowed judges at a hair and beauty show staged by students at Waltham Forest College on Wednesday 25 March 2009.

Student Simone Ricketts drew gasps of appreciation from the audience when she strutted the catwalk with her hair platted into a black and white mane. Elaborate black and white striped make-up adorned her face and body to complete the resemblance to the animal which runs wild on the African savannas. Her appearance won first prize for the hairdressing student who meticulously crafted it, Kamola Jones.

Kamola, 28, was placed top in the hairdressing level 2 adult category, in which students styled their models on an animal theme. She said: “I can’t believe I won. Simone who modelled for me is a health and social care student at the College and she helped me devise the zebra look.”

Kamola said she plans to take a course in beauty therapy at the college next year so she can achieve her ambition of becoming a personal stylist providing a total hair and beauty service to her clients.

She was one of around 60 hairdressing and beauty therapy students who took part in the Total Look competition held at the College’s main campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

Prizes were presented by Waltham Forest’s Mayor, Councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor, in seven different categories covering a range of hair and beauty courses from level 1, beginners, to level 3, which is A-level equivalent. She said: “What an absolutely splendid show. The students were brilliant, creative, and just fantastic. I am very proud of what takes place in this college because it reflects the achievements of people in this borough.”

The audience comprised family and friends as well as specially invited guests, including Mary Vine Morris, Area Director, Learning Skills Council (LSC) London North, Sarah Carrick, Partnership Director, LSC London North and Councillor Terry Wheeler.

Each prize category featured different themes, which included fairies, carnival, futuristic and horror.

Sabrina Hussein, 16, won first prize in the level 1 hairdressing competition, based on a punk theme. She is a full time student but works one day a week at the Walthamstow salon Talking Heads where her model, Nadine Mahon, works Saturdays. “In the long term I want to be a celebrity stylist,” Sabrina said. “I want to finish studying after completing a level 3 course, then work in a salon and make a name for myself. I will do whatever it takes to get to the top.”

Daljinder Riyat, 21, won the top prize in the level 3 hairdressing competition with her sister Pavan modelling for her. “My ambition is to be a stylist in theatre production,” she said.

Barbara Robinson took part in the Avant Garde show opening prom, which was not judged. The youthful looking 40-year-old has more than 20 years experience as a hairdresser, but is taking a level 3 course at the college so she can become a teacher and assessor. She styled her model, her niece Antoinette, in a punk-rock look featuring a colourful array of pinks, purples, blues and white. “I like wacky styles,” she said.

Salon owner and trainer Patricia Hope was one of the judges. She said: “The students were very creative, especially with some of the hand made costumes. “The judgements were made on how they interpreted the theme they were given on a combination of factors, not just testing their hairdressing skills but make up, costume, even down to the choice of model.”

The hair and beauty show has become an annual event on the College’s calendar and has been running for more than ten years.

Ruth Bennett, a lecturer in beauty therapy, said: “We have more than 100 students on full and part time hair and beauty courses. This show gives them the opportunity to showcase their work in front of an audience of their family, friends, and important people in the industry. They get a lot of enjoyment out of it, practise their skills, and they can use it towards their assessment.”

Claire Shire, the College’s Director of Young People’s Learning, said: “This show is another step on our way to becoming an outstanding college. It provides young people with the opportunity to develop all round skills such as presentation and allows the industry specialist to see the high standards of work they produce.

“It is about team work and allows young people to gain experience working with adults in its production and planning. Lots of students put in hours over and above their usual course hours. They research the themes thoroughly and present them in an innovative way.”

For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College call 0208 501 8501