Candy Shaw, founder of highlighting lifestyle brand Sunlights, and owner of Atlanta’s Jamison Shaw Hairdressers was knighted by the international hairdressing organization Intercoiffure Mondia, in Saint Tropez, at a black-tie gala overlooking the French Riviera on July 1st.

Escorted by her husband Fred of 35 years, an attorney, and their daughter Jenna (age 22), a tech executive, Shaw was inducted as a ‘knight’ into Intercoiffure’s ‘l’Ordre de la Chevalerie’ (The Order of Chivalry), before an audience of the hairstylists and salon owners in recognition of Shaw’s lifetime achievements as an educator and her contributions to the international hairdressing community and Intercoiffure America/Canada.

Following the black-tie event, the celebration continued until dawn at an all-night beach party on the Riviera’s world-famous Pamplona beach, home to A-lister hotspots and jetsetter haunts like Nikki Beach and Le Club 55.

The following evening, the program continued at an all-white-garment gala as delegations from Japan and France put on fashion shows featuring hairstyles for the upcoming winter and spring seasons’ collections nestled among the grapes in the hillside vineyards of Domain Bertaud Belieu, known for its outstanding St. Tropez Rose’ vintages.

The Balay Lama

Fondly referred to as ‘The Balay Lama’, Shaw adds the moniker ‘Chevalier du Soleils’ (‘Knight of the Suns’ or ‘SUN-Knights’) to her list of nicknames. 

Founder of Sunlights and recognized as an authority in French highlighting and haircutting education, Shaw’s other accolades include Pivot Points’ Leo Passage ‘Educator of the Year’ Award, two-time recipient of Intercoiffure Mondial’s ‘Personality of the Year’ Award in Paris, ‘Female Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award, ‘Small Businessperson of the Year’ Award, and NAHA ‘Educator of the Year’ finalist.

Earlier this year at America’s Beauty Show, Shaw, a ‘Beauty Changes Lives’ board member, was recognized for spearheading a campaign that raised over $100,000.00 to fund beauty-school-student scholarships.

Shaw’s upcoming appearances will include Sunlights Symposium 2023 at her home in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as education appearances at every major beauty tradeshow across the U.S.

“It’s not every day that you become a knight!”

— Candy Shaw, Founder of Sunlights and Owner of Jamison Shaw Hairdressers