Student Stars: From Braids to Beauty School, The Holiday Hair Contest Winner Shares her Story

For Roseline Ndubuisi, just coming to America was a dream in itself.

“I was 23 years old when I came to the United States from Africa.” says Roseline. “I came here to have a better life.”

As a child, Roseline always had a passion for beauty. She would braid hair for hours at a time, perfecting her skills and trying new techniques.
But when she came to the United States, her love of beauty took a backseat to a different career.

“I started working in the medical field. But as time went on, I wanted more time with my family, and wanted to do something I could grow in.”
As a married mother of 2, Roseline decided she wanted more. She enrolled at the Hair Design School in Bloomfield, NJ, and will graduate next week.

“I wanted to learn everything I didn’t know. I already know how to braid and style hair. I am also a certified Makeup Artist. It was the technical hair skills I was lacking. But now I know haircoloring, hair cutting, texturizing and more. I feel prepared to find a job I will enjoy.”

As Roseline was finishing up her last few months of school, Empire’s Holiday Hair Instagram contest was announced in class.

“I really didn’t want to enter. We do a lot of competitions in class, but I didn’t think about entering a national contest.”

After some encouragement from her educator, Roseline decided to enter. And it’s a good thing she did. Her design took 1st place out of nearly 900 entries. It was a shock for this hardworking student.

“I never thought I would win. I am so thrilled I did, but I never thought it possible.”

Roseline will add the winning design to her portfolio and resume. She plans to start job searching soon and hopes to work in a full service salon for a few years before venturing out on her own.

“My goal is to open my own salon. A full service salon offering everything I’ve learned at the Hair Design School.”