NI Beauty Excellence Awards 2020 launch with new judge

The NI Beauty Excellence Awards 2020 have launched in Belfast. According to organiser Weir Events, winners of the inaugural event from last year have reported a rise in footfall and bookings since their recognition by some of the industry’s finest hair, beauty and aesthetics practitioners.

It said that this year’s event sees even more professional acumen on the judging panel with the addition of Jason Shankey, the founder of the Shankey network of salons, training academy and range of own-brand products.

Shankey joins Bellamianta and Iconic Bronze director Linda Stinson; Emmy Award-winning hair and make-up designer Pamela Smyth; skincare expert and make-up artist Katrina Doran, award-winning hairdresser Paul Stafford; and Woodford Medical’s Dr Mervyn Patterson.

A new category, Hair and Beauty Supplier of the Year, has been introduced for 2020, encouraging the many outlets that keep Northern Irish salons current with highly sought after products and equipment to shout about their success.

The awards will once again look for salons to watch, after experiencing a huge surge in entries to these categories last year. “We received so many entries for the Salon to Watch category in 2019, each with their own niche and different service to bring to the industry here,” said director and creator of the awards Sarah Weir of Weir Events.

“This is why awards like ours are so important. They encourage new businesses to thrive and step even further in to a competitive field, while those already established businesses are celebrated for their business smarts and ability to keep the industry here one of the most fresh and exciting in the world.”

The 2020 NI Beauty Excellence Awards will be hosted by Pamela Ballantine and will take place at the Crowne Plaza, Shaw’s Bridge on Sunday, 14 June.