CoverStory out among the other competitors,” says Michael. “Once you figure that out, then you look at the hair.” Considering her hair could be dyed multiple shades and twisted into a giant conical beehive or—scarier—chopped off, a model must completely trust her stylist. Kiersten Pettersen modeled for Adrian Minnella of Trenz Hair Studio at the 2010 Allied Beauty Association’s national competition in Toronto. He chopped off her long blonde hair, dyed it fiery shades of red and yellow, then styled it into a first-place winning masterpiece that led him to compete in the worlds in Paris, France. “I was nervous…but I trusted Adrian and his vision. The show was awesome. The excitement in the atmosphere was palpable, with so many stylists and models from all over Canada. A fantastic experience,” she says. Both Tony and Michael agree that Thunder Bay is home to many excellent stylists whose calibre has carved out a place for this little northern Ontario city on the international hair scene.
There are strict rules for both the competitors and their models, and demerit points for not following them. Here are some examples from the Allied Beauty Association for a trend cut and style competition: Hairstyle or colour out of category: -3 points Attire out of category: -2 points Indecent attire: -3 points Pre-cutting: up to -5 points Hair not evenly wet and combed back: -1 or -2 points Coaching from the audience: -5 points Arriving late: -5 points Misuse of conduct: -5 points Not respecting start and stop times: -2 points Using illegal tools: up to -3 points Using hairpieces, extensions, and supports: -5 points Hair not brushed through: -3 points Ornamentation: -1 to -3 points
Adrian Minnella pictured with Kiersten Pettersen.
Award-winning styles by Michael and Tony Muia, mid-90s. The Walleye
9