WELLA YPS 2003
Competition Backgrounder
The Wella YPS Awards, or Young Protégé Scholarship Awards, were first held in New Zealand in 1991. The competition was
previously run in England and Australia but is now only held in this country.
The Wella YPS Awards recognise and salute outstanding creative flair, imagination, skill and talent within the
hairdressing arena for stylists aged 22 years and under, providing a platform to showcase the top up-and-coming talent
in New Zealand.
The Wella YPS Awards are a prestigious event on the industry calendar, producing a wide variety of inspiring classic,
stylish and avant-garde creations.
Previous Wella YPS winners include:
2002 – Amber Brinsdon, Total Image, Invercargill 2001 – Michael Ashton, Stephen Marr Hair Design, Auckland 2000 – Carl
Reeves, Halo and Hiebahn, Wellington 1999 – Kellie Johnson, Headquarters Centre City, New Plymouth 1998 – Alara Boswell,
Headquarters City West, New Plymouth 1997 – Malcolm Watson, Servilles, Auckland
Programme of Events:
Twelve regional competitions are held throughout March and April with finalists going on to compete in the national
final in Auckland.
Regional winners receive a certificate, entry to the national final, travel and accommodation costs for themselves and
their model to Auckland and Wella High Hair styling range product.
Colour Creativity Awards will be presented to the competitor at each regional event, who demonstrates technical and
creative excellence in colour work. Winners will receive a certificate, Wella High Hair product and a High Hair bag. The
national final, always a major event, is on Saturday 21 June in Auckland.
The overall winner of Wella YPS 2003 will receive the YPS trophy, a winner’s certificate and $5000 worth of travel.
Their work will be showcased in Headway magazine, and they will also get to work with the creative director of Pulp
magazine to produce a fashion spread.
The judging panel for the national final will consist of three high profile stylists from around the country.
Entrants have 45 minutes to create their masterpiece and are judged on three sections:
The Cut Style and Finish Total Look
Under these sections the judges are looking for outstanding delivery of several key components. The quality of shape and
form, balance of style, clean sectioning and finish of cut is assessed. Styling is judged on application of products and
use of equipment, positive direction from roots to tips and definite style lines. Judges also assess the total look, or
the fashion finish, including the suitability of the style for the model, clothes, make-up and pose, plus the finalist’s
creative insight.
Colouring is done before the national final at Wella’s Head Office in Auckland.
Judging takes place live, on the spot, at the national final.
The Wella YPS 2003 national final is open to the public.