Navigating NAHA, a Mizani Mentorship with Empire Beauty School.
The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) is the most prestigious in the industry, celebrating talent across the nation in categories such as cutting, color, and texture. NAHA nominee Evie Johnson and NAHA winner Jamal Edmonds offered a once-in-a-lifetime mentorship opportunity for two Empire Beauty School students, supporting them in navigating NAHA. In this article, we shed light on the accomplishments of Evie and Jamal, the exclusive mentorship, and how it impacts the success of our future beauty professionals.
Evie and Jamal are close friends, which has been central to their success. Both are accomplished professionals with deep expertise in textured hair, education, and creative styling. Evie is a certified trichologist, salon owner, platform stylist, and educator with a specialty in hair shaping and treatment. Jamal is a Mizani educator, NAHA finalist and winner, and a colorist/texture expert. Evie Johnson is a multiple-time NAHA nominee and Jamal Edmonds won the 2022 NAHA award for Texture.
Empire Beauty School had the opportunity to host a Mizani Mentorship Moments session for all school locations, with Evie and Jamal as our featured guests. The purpose of this session was to inspire future beauty professionals and provide hands-on industry insight. Following this session, two Empire Beauty School students from Florence, KY would receive mentorship from Jamal and Evie, preparing them for their own NAHA submissions.
The two talented students selected for this life-changing opportunity are Kristeen Kettelhake and Alyssa Boles. Both are driven, creative, and eager to make their mark in the beauty industry. Their selection for this mentorship is a testament to their commitment and potential.
Kristeen Kettelhake never imagined she would be chosen for such an incredible opportunity.
“My beauty career has grown a lot since starting at Empire. When we met about the mentorship contest. I was excited about it but never thought I would have been selected. When I found out I was selected I was in shock, I called my mom immediately to tell her about it,” she shares.
Kristeen’s mood board reflects her love for nature’s beauty, drawing inspiration from the theme of an enchanted forest.
“There is beauty in nature; it doesn’t matter what season it is, there is always something beautiful. It also shows growth. Nature always changes. In autumn and winter, the plants start dying due to the cold but shortly after, spring and summer come. It reminds me, even though life changes and starts a new season of my life there will always be an opportunity to grow and learn,” Kristeen expresses.
Kristeen hopes to learn new techniques from Evie and Jamal and gain the skills needed to pursue her own NAHA submission in the future.
Alyssa Boles has always had a deep connection to beauty, experimenting with makeup and hair at a young age. Despite the doubts of her peers, she decided to pursue her passion.
“I’ve always loved makeup and hair. In my junior year of high school, I thought about going to Empire to expand my knowledge and become a cosmetologist. However, all of my friends were going to a four-year college. Empire has supported me by giving me the best education. I’ve learned so many things from all my teachers, my first teacher there was Ms. Tuvara and she was the absolute best,” Alyssa shares.
Alyssa’s mood board was inspired by Greek mythology, showcasing the strength, grace, and power of goddesses like Athena, Aphrodite, and Artemis.
“I’ve always loved mood boards and vision boards. I’ve never had good luck, so I didn’t even think I’d win! But when I got the email, I was ecstatic, I instantly had to tell everyone I knew. I’ve loved Greek mythology since I was in elementary school because of Percy Jackson. And goddesses are the epitome of beauty, what better way to show off a woman’s beauty than to represent them with different goddesses? Each goddess has a role, Athena is wisdom and strength, Aphrodite is beauty and grace, and Artemis is a leader and the queen of night. I wanted to reflect different women with the different goddesses,” she explains.
Alyssa is dedicated to perfecting her craft and expanding her skill set. She is eager to learn about the business and marketing aspects of the beauty world.
“Whether I choose to do hair, nails, or skin, I want to be the best I can be. I plan on taking many notes and documenting a bit of my experience with Evie and Jamal. As I move through schooling and working with clients, I’m doing great work but I’m excited to see and learn behind the scenes. Working with Evie and Jamal will help me feel more confident in myself and my craft. This experience will show how many other opportunities there are for cosmetologists,” she reflects.
This mentorship has a long-lasting impact on our Empire Beauty School students, as it provides them with exclusive insight into the beauty industry. This opportunity will shape their careers as they begin their journey to submitting an entry to NAHA. Students, we encourage you to search for mentorship opportunities as they will guide you toward success. Please reach out to the team at your school for possible opportunities.
For more information about Empire Beauty School, or how to enroll visit https://bit.ly/LearnMoreAtEmpire