Senior Monica Funes Wins Cosmetology Competition
Regina Allen
This year, senior Monica Funes took first place in the Skills USA District 5 Cosmetology Fantasy Competition.
Funes moved to the United States two years ago from El Salvador. She has had an interest in hair and makeup since she was 14, but she did not know about the competition until cosmetology teacher Nicki Dowdell recommended that she compete.
“[Dowdell] told me to go because I have a lot of talent in cosmetology. She said that I was good enough represent the class and the school at the competition,” said Funes.
Funes competed against six other high school students from other schools in the district. In the competition, students demonstrate their skills in haircutting, hairstyling, and long hair designs. Students have a month to prepare, with the theme in mind, beforehand. There is a clothing requirement that is different for men and women, usually consisting of a white top and black bottoms. All designs are completed on mannequins, so everyone starts with the same model and same type of hair.
The competition is made of four segments, each demonstrating the contenstens skills The first is a 90-degree women’s haircut, and the second and third parts are a woman’s and men’s cut that is copied from a finished photo. The last segment is a segment where competitors can display their creativity and design skills on long hair. They have two hours to complete their final look, which is done according to the theme, which this year was Fantasy. The competition ends with a fashion show where students walk down the stage with their completed creation and present it to an audience and judges.
The looks are judged on artistic ability, balance and design, overall appearance, safety and sanitation, written theme, and clean up. The rules stress that the competition is based around fantasy, and contestants are free to express their creative and artistic abilities.
Funes knew that she needed something big to wow the judges. She worked hard on her design. “For my hairstyle, I was trying to do something big and fancy. For my makeup look, I added a lot of diamonds and made it really sparkly,” Funes said.
Her winning look consisted of an elaborate bun on the top of the her mannequins head and a makeup look adorned with pearls all over the face and hair, and diamond and stud detailing over the face and neck.
Funes was thrilled about the outcome of the competition. She accomplished what she wanted to and is very proud of her final look. “It was my first time competing and I felt so nervous when I was competing and felt so happy [after I won],” she said.
Funes will compete this year in a state-wide competition in Virginia Beach over spring break.
