ASCP, ISPA and PBA Receive 2026 Power of Associations Award for Esthetics Licensure Compact
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
by Stacey Soble
A Scholarship Success Story
How beauty school and two scholarships helped this cosmetologist discover her passion for teaching.
May 31, 2022
3 min to read
In late 2019, Lexie Pitts of Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology in DeKalb, Illinois was the first runner-up in the Rosy Rewards scholarship program. The winnings were sent directly to her school to help offset the cost of her tuition or other school expenses. Little did Lexie know at the time how this first win would lead to another, and help take her career in a new and exciting direction. We catch up with Lexie for a little Q&A about her growth.
SALON TODAY: What are you up to now?
Pitts: I am now a licensed cosmetologist and am currently a student in the educator’s program for cosmetology. I plan to be a licensed educator this summer and I am so excited.
ST: Since beauty school, what is your greatest accomplishment or realization?
Pitts: I realized that I can be all of who I want to be - no title will define my future. I have realized in order to be the best version of myself, I have to be selfish sometimes. My dreams will only work if I do so I can’t and will not stop. My biggest accomplishment has been setting the bar higher for myself. I am now able to define who I am and who I want to be.
ST: What are you looking forward to in the future?
Pitts: I am looking forward to becoming an educator, as I want to inspire the success of students who dream to become confident in their skills. I want to show students that their dreams can become a reality if they believe in themselves.
ST: How did your scholarship make a difference while you were in school and after?
Pitts: It lead me on a path to receive another scholarship for the instructor program. My scholarship allowed me to finish school, get my transcripts and begin my career. I was in a hard place in school, working low wages, just trying to maintain. Receiving the Rosy (scholarship) gave me the freedom to start my career without a financial burden. I could not have been more grateful for them believing in me.
ST: What are your words of advice for future professionals looking to succeed in this industry?
Pitts: Ask for help. The world is full of opportunities and sometimes those opportunities aren’t always obvious.
My advice would also be to focus. There will always be events and hardships that may take you off your path, but you have to focus. Focus on your goal, focus on your dreams. No one is going to be successful for you, you have to do it yourself. If you focus on your success, you will realize there will never be a finish line. Success will be everlasting as long as you focus.
Know a first-time beauty, barber, or esthetics student who could use a leg-up? Let them know to enter the Rosy Rewards scholarship.
More In The Know
In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Take the Plunge with HairToSay Does the Bay
In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.
Stop Losing Clients to Hair Thinning
At Premiere Orlando 2026, SALON TODAY catches up with Easihair Pro's Angela Gilmore, who talks about why stylists lose clients who are suffering from thinning hair and hair loss, and how their new Hairlosophy line can help.
by Stacey Soble
New Torah-Inspired Card Deck Introduces a Color-Based Approach for Reflection and Decision-Making
Illuminated Paths is a boxed set of 52 cards, a guidebook, and an Oracolor Wheel, a visual framework that helps readers reconnect with the qualities they want to bring into everyday life.
by Stacey Soble
The Invisible Work of a Rebrand
In this rare essay, the president of a haircare brand takes us behind-the-scenes into a world we never see when we pick up a product off the shelves--the arduous, thought-probing, second-guessing journey of rebranding a legacy product line. Not only is her reflection fascinating, but it is also incredibly useful for any salon owner or manufacturer contemplating their own brand.
Minerva Beauty Celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a Service Tray Giveaway
Twenty lucky winners will be selected July 30th, and each will be able to choose from three different service tray models.
by Stacey Soble
Three Blokes, One Mountain, One Cause
Motivated by loved ones who have battled cancer, Phorest's Barry Quinn and two friends will embark on a three-day trek to the summit of the highest peak in North Africa in September, raising money for HairToStay. Find out how you can help them.
by Stacey Soble
Harper Ellis Hair Co. Shows Up for Beauty Professionals with Their Biggest Investment Yet
The company's Back to Business Sweepstakes is a direct investment in the stylists and salon owners who are building something that lasts.
by Staff
The Calendar Illusion: Why Your Salon's May Revenue Isn't What It Seems
Owners start to worry when a month's sales come up short compared to the same period last year, but that may have more to do with the days in the month than with an actual decline. The KIM Report's Alain Audet points to May 2026 as a prime example.