On a bustling Saturday evening at Bridgetown’s Solidarity House, the first-ever Art of Her: The Beauty of South Central competition drew to a close, with three standout female beauty professionals taking home top honors and a collective $20,000 in prizes. The event, born from a vision to elevate women-owned beauty businesses across Barbados, offered creators a rare platform to display their technical skill, build their personal brands, and connect with industry peers — growing far beyond its original goal of highlighting talent within the St Michael South Central constituency after widespread interest from beauty workers across the island.
Organized in partnership with local retailer #1 Beauty Supply, the competition centered on the overarching theme of “Fantasy”, split into three specialized categories: Crowning the Fantasy for hair artistry, The Face of Fantasy for makeup artistry, and Fantasy at Your Fingertips for nail art and design. A panel of four industry judges, led by Chief Judge Debra Proverbs, evaluated the 10 competing artists who created their works live on-site, with attendees free to move between dedicated hair, makeup, and nail stations to observe creative processes and interact with contestants throughout the evening.
At the end of judging, Shanice Thompson claimed first place in the Makeup Artistry category, beating out runner-up Aliyah Daniel and third-place finisher Simone Williams. Thompson’s award-winning look, crafted on model Shakila Bayley, drew inspiration from Barbados’ iconic sunsets, blending bold, warm hues of red, orange, and gold with delicate floral accents. The newly crowned winner called her victory a validation of years of hard work invested in her craft, noting that the competition has already opened new doors for her business through exposure and professional networking.
“It feels amazing to see my hard work, dedication, and passion pay off. I’m grateful for the opportunity and proud of how far I’ve come,” Thompson said, adding that her prizes — which include a professional makeup recliner, lash supplies, a ring light, and a curated gift set — will go directly toward growing her brand and expanding access to new clients.
In the Nail Art and Design category, Antavia Alexander secured the top spot ahead of Richanne Lashley and Ria Browne. Alexander’s intricate nail art, painted on model Jonnell Farrell, celebrated the beauty of sisterhood, drawing inspiration from the quiet joy of women gathering for a picnic. Her design featured detailed depictions of fresh fruit, blooming flowers, and a honeybee, crafted to honor the strength and unity that women provide one another. The shy designer shared that competing in a public setting pushed her far outside her comfort zone, calling the experience a transformative personal and professional milestone. Alexander’s prizes include a professional nail table, lamp, storage trolley, and gift set, which she will use to continue growing her business.
Hair stylist Ashéy Johnson took home the crown in the Hair Artistry category, the only competitor to remain in the field after other contestants dropped out. Rather than treating her solo entry as a formality, Johnson leaned into the unique pressure of the moment and delivered a standout creation titled *Crowned by Kadooment*, which repurposed a Crop Over costume backpack into a vibrant, elaborate hairstyle rooted in Barbadian cultural heritage. Johnson said her work was designed to challenge the idea that local traditions are relics of the past, instead framing them as foundational elements that lift up and shape contemporary Barbadian identity. Her prizes include a professional shampoo station, roller ball hair dryer, and gift set sponsored by Aventa Barbados, and she called the new professional connections and visibility her biggest takeaway from the competition.
Beyond the live competition, the evening offered a full lineup of entertainment and industry engagement. Local soca artist Faith Callender performed her newest singles “From Nothing” and “Keep It”, while the Vida by Esquire Crop Over band opened the event with a cultural showcase. Pageant contestants from the Mum, This One’s For You initiative also made a special stage appearance, and beauty brand Rogue Beautii led a live makeup demonstration using products sponsored by global beauty brand Maybelline. The evening concluded with a Fantasy Finale showcase and official awards ceremony.
Local MP Marsha Caddle, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasized the long-term socio-economic impact of investing in women beauty entrepreneurs. Caddle noted that the global beauty industry generates roughly $700 billion in annual revenue, and supporting local women creators delivers outsized benefits to entire communities. “When we support their productive capacity, we know that families and communities benefit. We know that income in the hands of women tends to have greater multiplier effects for the health and education of children and families,” she said, thanking #1 Beauty Supply owner Mohammed Jaouni, manager Charmaine Carter, and their team for stepping in as immediate partners when the event was first proposed.
Event technical consultant Ashley Lashley shared that the entire event was planned and executed in less than a month — a timeline far faster than the months of preparation typical for large industry events. Lashley credited the quick turnaround to the dedication of the cross-functional planning team, which included Aisha Marshall, Amber Price, Allan Farmer, Tyrique Wilson, Dr Abdul Mohamed, Rico Graham, and Shelly Williams, as well as the support of sponsors, partners, volunteers, and competing artists. Lashley added that the high level of talent on display and strong audience turnout prove there is significant unmet demand for local programming that elevates and showcases Barbadian beauty professionals.
Additional sponsors and partners that contributed to the event’s success include Beyond Design, AccuSounds Inc., Iridescent Lighting, Mayhem Soundz, REI Academy, the Division of Youth and Culture, and the National Cultural Foundation.