The founder of Northern Ireland’s first and longest established International Beauty College has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the beauty industry.
Roberta Mechan, owner of Roberta Mechan College of Beauty, picked up the accolade alongside 27 of NI’s top hair, beauty and aesthetic businesses at the Northern Ireland Beauty Excellence Awards 2023.
Proudly sponsored by West Coast Cooler and judged by an independent panel of experts, the awards, which, due to the popular demand of previous years, introduced six new categories this year and saw a record number of entries from a host of homegrown salons, clinics, spas, specialists and products across Northern Ireland.
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Unfortunately Roberta Mechan, who founded her world leading beauty college over 40 years ago, was unable to attend the awards on the night and the award was accepted on her behalf by her daughter-in-law Arlene Mechan.
Arlene said: “On behalf of Roberta, I’d like to say thank you so much. I know that Roberta is honoured and privileged to be a part of this industry alongside so many hard-working and talented industry professionals and I am honoured to accept this award on her behalf tonight.
"It is incredible to see how the beauty industry has evolved in Northern Ireland over the years. When Roberta started her business in the ‘70s I am sure she never could have imagined what a wonderful career she’d have, and how many therapists and salons would be trained under her name.
“Roberta has always been so passionate about helping those in the beauty industry to develop and grow as industry professionals and she would like me to say thank you to every person who has attended the college and clinic as without them, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Lisburn Road based salon, Radiance Day Spa stole the night, picking up a whopping three awards for Beauty Salon of the Year, Beauty Business of the Year and highly commended for Skincare Salon / Clinic of the Year. Some of this year’s new categories included Salon / Clinic Team of the Year which was won by JAX Hair and Beauty and Salon / Clinic Interior which was scooped up by Eclectic in Bangor as well as the award with the most entries, Mobile / Home Business of the Year, won by Sarah Callan Facialist in Portadown.
Dr Bonny in Stranmillis returned to the awards this year and picked up the Aesthetics Clinic of the Year and Larne Dental Care won the Cosmetic Dental practice of the Year category.
The newly introduced category, the West Coast Cooler People’s Choice Award, was chosen by a public vote to celebrate those working in the industry who have gone above and beyond for their clients and was won by Jay Miller from Jay’s Barber Club in Belfast who also won the award for Barber/ Make Grooming Salon of the Year.
Other winning businesses on the night included Spa Sanctuary, Aspire School of Beauty, Blush Newtownards, Scissor Sisters Banbridge, Olivia Muldoon Hair and Makeup Ltd, Chloe Henning Professional MUA, Aesthetics By Jane, 4Beauty Group- SKINICIAN, Brows & Co., The Laser Clinic NI, Kim Annesley Hair, Berkeley Aesthetics, Hair Loss Rehab, Hair & Co, Hair by Ciaran, La Bella Vita, Broad Lane Beauty, Katie Smith Aesthetics and Rouge Skincare and Beauty.
Tasked with the job of whittling down the hundreds of award entries to finalists and judging the awards to find the winners were make-up and skincare specialist Katrina Doran, Medical Director at Woodford Medical Dr Mervyn Patterson and owner of Pearl Beauty, Elanna McGowan.
New to the panel this year were nail expert and Renew Beauty, BioSculpture and Elim Educator, Ingrid Graham, Dr Martina Collins, Principal Dentist and owner of Martina Dental & Skin Clinic and last year’s winner of Overall Contribution to the Industry, founder and former CEO of Vita Liberata, Alyson Hogg MBE.
Speaking of the awards, event organiser and owner of Weir Events, Sarah Weir said: “It has been a privilege to bring back these wonderful awards again which just keep getting bigger and better. They are an opportunity to recognise and showcase the diverse range of talent and innovation of the ever-growing beauty industry in Northern Ireland. I can’t wait for next year’s awards already.
“We received a record number of entries which is a demonstration of the booming beauty industry in Northern Ireland as well as the passion and determination of so many of our industry professionals. Congratulations to all of our winners, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you all.”
The awards, which were once again hosted by TV royalty, Pamela Ballantine, took place on Saturday 13th May 2023 at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast.
The 2023 Awards, organised by Weir Events, were proudly supported by title sponsor, West Coast Cooler ; media partners, Daily Mirror and Belfast Live ; Official Car Partner, Charles Hurst Landrover, with event partners: BTL Aesthetics - Creator of. EMSCULPT NEO & EMFACE and innovating aesthetic solutions for over 30 years; Davines - Italian hair care brand, whose ethos is to ‘Do our best for the world, creating the good life for all through beauty, ethics and sustainability'; Pearl Beauty - a vegan and cruelty-free cosmetic beauty brand; Med FX , supplier for all aesthetics and skin rejuvenation product needs; BF Mulholland - a full service dental products supplier; Shop Beautiful - a supplier of premium, professional grade beauty brands; DermaFrac UK- medical facial experts; and Design NI - a website and design agency.
Beauty Excellence Awards 2023 Category winners:
Aesthetics Clinic of the Year
Winner - Dr Bonny Clinic
Highly Commended - Verve Medical Aesthetics
Aesthetics Clinic to Watch
Winner - Katie Smith Aesthetics
Highly Commended - Alora Rejuvenation
Skincare Salon / Clinic of the Year
Winner - Rouge Skincare and Beauty
Highly Commended - Radiance Beauty and Day Spa
Barbers / Male Grooming Salon of the Year
Winner - Jays Barber Club
Beauty Salon of the Year
Winner - Radiance Beauty & Day Spa
Beauty Salon to Watch
Winner - Broad Lane Beauty
Day Spa / Boutique Spa of the Year
Winner - Spa Sanctuary
Cosmetic Dental Practice of the Year
Winner - Larne Dental Centre
Hair, Beauty or Aesthetics Educator / Training Provider of the Year
Winner - Aspire School of Beauty
Hair and Beauty Retailer or Supplier of the Year
Winner - 4Beauty Group- SKINICIAN
Hair Salon of the Year
Winner - Hair by Ciaran
Highly Commended - Golden by Danielle McAlonan
Hair Salon to Watch
Winner - Hair & Co
Hair Loss Specialist of the Year
Winner - Hair Loss Rehab
Hair Extension Specialist of the Year
Winner - La Bella Vita
Highly Commended - Morgan Barr Hair
Brow / Lash Specialist of the Year
Winner - Brows & Co
Highly Commended - The Brow Babe
Makeup Studio / Artist of the Year
Winner - Olivia Muldoon Hair & Makeup
Creative Makeup Artist of the Year
Winner - Chloe Henning Professional MUA
Nail Salon of the Year
Winner - Scissor Sister Banbridge
Highly Commended - Blush Newtownards
Salon or Clinic Interior Design
Winner - Eclectic
Semi or Permanent Makeup Specialist of the Year
Winner - Aesthetics By Jane
Highly Commended - Beauty Ink By R.D
Specialist Salon or Clinic of the Year
Winner - The Laser Clinic NI
Mobile / Home-Based Business of the Year - Hair
Winner - Kim Annesley Hair
Mobile / Home-Based Business of the Year - Beauty
Winner - Sarah Callan Facialist
Mobile / Home-Based Business of the Year - Specialist
Winner - Berkeley Aesthetics
Team of the Year
Winner - JAX Hair and Beauty
Highly Commended - Beyond Skin Clinic
Beauty Business of the Year
Winner - Radiance Beauty and Day Spa
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
Winner - Roberta Mechan
West Coast Cooler - People's Choice Award
Winner - Jay Miller - Jays Barber Club
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