SPECIAL PROMOTION
2016 Emerald Coast Top Salon Cuts, Curls and Camaraderie by REBECCA PADGETT
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s the sun set at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa on April 8, hundreds of guests entered the ballroom filled with a sense of anticipation — the culminating event of the 2016 Emerald Coast Top Salon competition was about to begin. The energy was infectious and stylists arrived looking their most fashion-forward. Representatives of the nine competing salons chatted and checked out the competition over libations and a scrumptious spread including chicken and waffles. A jazzy family band from Tallahassee by way of New Orleans, Jacob’s Ladder, serenaded the room during the cocktail hour. Soon, the lights dimmed and video screens pulsated with a welcoming video that captured the crowd’s attention. Each salon and its model were introduced through filmed video interviews, which captured the close interaction that takes place during the makeover process and provided insight to the lives of the models. The screens faded and a backlit screen elegantly silhouetted the models before they made their appearances on stage. From a teen-age boy to middle-age women, each model exuded charm and confidence that stemmed from their new looks; training from modeling coach Marsha Doll and fashions provided by Destin Commons. Each boasted a brilliant smile, thanks to teeth whitening services provided by the competition’s presenting sponsor, the Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. Trainers at the Blueprint Health Studio had seen to it that bodies were toned. ZT Motors displayed a 1. Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Kimberly Balzli (center) was presented this prestigious award for her leadership in the salon community and her contributions to the community by last years top salon winner Avantgarde’s model Dayna Iscano (left) and Emerald Coast Magazine’s Vice President and Emcee McKenzie Burleigh Lohbeck (right). →
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June–July 2016 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM