The deadline has been extended on entries to prestigious beauty awards which are set to honour businesses across Northern Ireland.
Organisers of the NI Beauty Excellence Awards, which are proudly sponsored by West Coast Cooler and supported by Belfast Live and Daily Mirror, are giving businesses in NI an extra week to reflect on their achievements from the past two years.
Beauty, hair and aesthetic salons, nail technicians, barbers, spas and clinics now have until Friday 11 March to submit their entries to the awards.
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The announcement comes as the five industry professionals who will sit on the judging panel say they are so proud of how their industry has bounced back and can’t wait to read the stories of passion from their peers.
Paul Stafford, the multi-award-winning hairdresser and owner of Belfast’s Stafford Hair empire, says it’s not for them to judge but to simply appreciate and honour what fellow professionals have done to sustain their businesses in recent years.
He added: “Nobody has been immune to the effects of lockdowns and restrictions, and the hairdressers, beauticians, aesthetics clinics, nail technicians – all of those close contact services – were dealt a devastating blow. We are not looking for stories of great growth and bounty, because we all know it has very much been about survival since March 2020.
“And that’s why these awards are so important. We want to celebrate our sheer will to survive, no matter what has happened, as goodness knows we deserve it!”
Paul heads up the judging panel which also includes Co. Tyrone businesswoman and owner and director of Bellamianta Tan, Linda Stinson, plus make-up and skincare specialist Katrina Doran, Dr Mervyn Patterson, Medical Director at Woodford Medical, and Elanna Pecherle, who recently launched Pearl Beauty borne from her passion to create high quality and affordable beauty products for her peers.
Elanna said: “I moved to Northern Ireland 10 years ago from Canada and, with hair and beauty as my passion, made it my mission to sample as many salons and treatments as possible! I have been blown away by the passion and innovation here, for a small corner of the world, there are huge things happening. I have been able to launch my own beauty brand from my home on the North Coast, and am inspired every day by my local peers – we are all in this together and the NI Beauty Excellence Awards is a platform from which to showcase our collective entrepreneurial spirit.”
The awards, which are once again hosted by TV royalty, Pamela Ballantine and will take place on Sunday 15 May 2022 at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast, are made up of 19 categories, with all-new trophies for the Innovation Award and Inspirational Industry Person this year.
Returning categories, which are now open for entry also include Hair Salon of the Year, Beauty and Skincare Salon of the Year and Aesthetics Clinic of the Year. Plus, one industry specialist or business will be awarded the Outstanding Contribution trophy for their years of dedication to growing the local industry.
The Awards are proudly supported by title sponsor West Coast Cooler, media partners Belfast Live and Daily Mirror, and event partners, Luxury Tanning Brand, Bellamianta; leading skincare brand, Epionce; influencer app, Fetch Ireland; vegan and cruelty-free cosmetic beauty brand, Pearl Beauty; award-winning training academy The Beauty School; technical event production specialists, Sparq; full service dental, pharmaceutical and aesthetics Supplier, BF Mulholland; supplier for all aesthetics and skin rejuvenation product needs, Med Fx; and supplier of premium, professional grade beauty brands, Shop Beautiful.
For further information and tickets, visit www.nibeautyexcellence.com.
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