The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) iannounced the members of Team USA who will compete in the Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC) HairWorld Championships of Beauty this Fall in Milan. Considered the Olympics of hair, over 1,500 beauty professionals from over 50 countries will compete in this event, which will take place October 6 - 8, 2012.

PBA helps select and support these talented members as they represent the cosmetology profession. This year, the United States will be represented by four teams, which are sponsored by LIVEGAIN COMPETITION (official color sponsor), Pivot Point, and Sally Beauty (Junior Ladies' Team).

 Senior Ladies' Fashion Team:

• Dale Dees, Orlando, FL - Team Trainer

• Elena Basmova, Redmond, WA

• Barbara Lawson, St. Petersburg, FL

• Flora Linton, Tarpon Springs, FL

Senior Ladies' Technical Team:

• Amanda Cassidy, Woodbridge, VA - Team Trainer

• Tatiana Kovanska, Santa Monica, CA

• Haeji Park, Los Angeles, CA

• Svitlana Vechera, Woodland Hills, CA

Junior Ladies' Fashion Team:

• Manuel Rodriguez - Chicago, IL -  Team Trainer

• Kyleigh Banks, Chicago, IL

• Nataliya Ilkiv, Chicago, IL

• Kelly Jost, Glenview, IL

Junior Ladies' Technical Team:

• Manuel Rodriguez - Chicago, IL -  Team Trainer

• Kyleigh Banks, Chicago, IL

• Nataliya Ilkiv, Chicago, IL

• Kelly Jost, Glenview, IL  

Senior Team tryouts were held at the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) Long Beach hair competitions in January. Junior Team USA members were chosen through a photo competition.  In preparation for the OMC HairWorld Championships, team members have been training around the clock practicing styling techniques and finalizing their creative concepts and artistic visions. 

 During the championship, teams from around the world will compete in timed, styling challenges. All challenges are designed to see how contestants utilize their skill and creativity while under a time crunch.  After the three-day competition, one team will earn the coveted title of World Champion. 

 "Competing in the World Championships requires talent, skill, creativity and dedication," says PBA Beauty Professional/NCA Leadership Council President, Graciela Santiler Nowik.  "PBA | NCA's Team USA will represent our country with enthusiasm, passion and hard work."  

PBA is the U.S. representative to Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC), sponsor of the OMC World Championships of Beauty, which will take place in Milan, Italy on October 6-8, 2012.  For more information, please visit probeauty.org/hairworld or omchairworld.com.