Two emerging hairstylists have been selected to receive the 2018 Leo Passage NEXTGEN Scholarship. Allison McElroy of Clive and Co. (@_elle_mc_) in Addison Texas and Ashley Peters (@thestylistabroad) of Jewel Hair Design in Alexandria, Virginia will each receive an immersive week of learning in Chicago, courtesy of Pivot Point International along with tickets to America’s Beauty Show and the Beauty Changes Lives Experience. McElroy and Peters were selected as scholarship winners following a national competition open to hairstylists with one-to-five years of experience. A panel of judges evaluated each applicant’s inspiration board and brief video describing how a career in beauty has changed their life.

Ashley Peters (@thestylistabroad)

 In her application video, MCElroy shared how her passion for beauty continues to grow as she helps clients become more confident. “I’ve fallen in love with design and as I practice my craft, I’m developing  relationships that inspire me to tear down walls, reset boundaries and change how people see beauty,” she stated.

 Ashley Peters submitted a video describing her career as a journey that allows her to connect her art with humanity. “Hair and beauty is the cornerstone of self-expression and it’s my privilege to help each guest, bride or model express their beauty through my art,” said Peters, who plans to eventually pay her success forward by sharing her artistic skills with at-risk youth.

McElroy and Ashley will travel to Chicago in March for a week of  advanced education and a professional photo shoot. “The Beauty Changes Lives Foundation is honored to not only help people enter the industry with basic scholarships, but help nurture the talent of NEXTGEN hairstylists,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation.

Applications for the 2019 Leo Passage NEXTGen scholarship will be accepted starting August 1, 2019. More information is available at www.beautychangelives.org/scholarships.