On March 25, Lakeland College’s Lloydminster campus was buzzing with energy at the first annual Border Beauty Showcase, an event hosted by the 2023-2024 hairstyling and esthetician students.

A model wears butterfly-inspired makeup."It was chaotic but in a good way," says hairstyling student Kammi Feland, one of the organizers of the event. "So many people came out and everyone was so supportive. To see everyone's creativity shine was so inspiring."

The event held multiple competition categories, including live barbering, full-look avant-garde, and high school formal makeup and formal updo. The live barbering competition showcased the talent and skill of barbers in real time on stage, transforming their model's hair into a work of art. High school students stepped out of their comfort zones for the formal updo and makeup categories to follow their creative vision. In the avant-garde full-look competition, five groups battled it out, each with a unique vision. They created comprehensive, creative looks that incorporated hair, makeup, wardrobe and fantasy elements.

"This event brought a lot of local businesses together," says Lauren Duke, a hairstyling student who assisted with organizing the event. "The beauty industry in Lloydminster is very diverse. This was a great opportunity for people to see this through such a fun atmosphere. As students, we got to experience the different business aspects of the beauty industry."

For the students, this event was an opportunity to engage with their craft in a real-world setting, to feel the heat of competition and the glow of recognition. Students managing the event also learned time management, teamwork and professional skills when meeting industry professionals and organizing an event for the public. For high school participants, it was a glimpse into the future and potential pathways for their passion.

Border Beauty Showcase"I think the event brought our class closer together; we were broken into groups that we normally would not be in," says Feland. "It was nice to be pushed out of my comfort zone and introduced to things I typically would not take an interest in. I enjoy how hands-on Lakeland is; I feel like they teach us more in the lab than they do in the classroom. Having real clients to work on and the instructor's support gives us the real-world experiences we need behind the chair to feel comfortable."

Lakeland's first Border Beauty Showcase was funded by dollars raised at Feast on the Farm, an annual fundraiser supporting student-led learning initiatives.