Rotorua's Leeanne Elliott has wowed judges with her style at the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers National Hair Design Awards.
The House of Elliott hair designer won the Urban Night Hair Award at regional level in August, earning her and three others from the Bay of Plenty a place in
the national finals in Christchurch on Sunday.
Although Mrs Elliott didn't place in the Urban Night Hair category on Sunday, she beat the other designers (about 75) in the overall competition to win the Total Look/Concept award.
The award is judged on the "head-to-toe look" of a model - everything from shoes, clothing, jewellery and make-up and how they tie in with the model's hairstyle.
"I went for a real soft, regal look.
"The model was a red-head with very pale skin so I went with the whole pearl idea and soft colours which made her hair stand out even more," Mrs Elliott said.
"I had help from Katrina Flavell (also at House of Elliott). She helped me come up with my look."
The model, Year 13 John Paul College student Laura Taylor, had pearls draped around her neck, hands and ankles and looked like a porcelain doll, Mrs Elliott said.
"The dress was a slip from the Salvation Army and I sewed on a fringe. It made her skin look amazing and with the pearls it was stunning."
The evening was exciting and nerve-racking, she said.
"We had a few earthquakes, too, which didn't help the nerves."
Mrs Elliott said when she hadn't placed in her section for hair design she thought she was out of the running for any awards, so the Total Look/Concept award came as a real surprise.
"I couldn't really believe it. I didn't expect it at all.
"When they called out my name I practically skipped up to the stage," she said.
Mrs Elliott said winning the award meant a great deal to her.
"It means if you work hard at perfecting something you love doing, then it pays off."
