Family fortunes! Mum and daughter hairdressing duo amongst winners of glossy photoshoot

A mum and daughter duo were amongst five top students on UCB’s hair and beauty courses to win the coveted chance to have their work showcased in a professional photoshoot.

Jo and Shayla Ullah were invited to take part in the glossy shoot at UCB’s Specialist Hair & Media Make-up studios as their prize for winning a UCB Schwarzkopf Dream Maker award, an annual competition launched in 2014 to celebrate outstanding students across the University school.

Living up to expectations, the five talented students – all of whom were granted the title of Schwarzkopf Dream Maker by their lecturers over the 2016/17 academic year – came up with a whole feast of looks on the day, drawing inspiration from vintage icons to Game of Thrones.

For the photoshoot, the group got to use an exclusive new line of high-end Schwarzkopf hair products, the aim of the day being to give students’ a selection of stylish, professional photos for their portfolio and help them stand out to potential employers.

Jo said she planned to use the photographs when she graduates to help her become a hairdressing teacher. “It’s been tough sometimes balancing my studies with looking after five kids, but I am really proud to be here,” she said.

The Schwarzkopf Dream Maker awards have gone from strength to strength since their inception, rewarding students who have shown ‘commitment, talent and a positive attitude’ over the year.

While the photographs are enough to make any CV sparkle, Carol Moore, Senior Curriculum Leader in Hairdressing at the University, said the awards were about much more than just employability. 

“Today will be a lifetime memory for students – a day that they can look back on as the beginning of their career in the industry,” she said. “It’s proof that they were outstanding students at UCB, something they can keep forever.”

While Dream Maker Kate Benton’s dazzling skills and links with professional photographers has already made her an Instagram hit, she said the photoshoot was extra special, having overcome difficulties with her health that forced her to put her Level 3 qualification on hold for a year.

“I’m excited, but also a bit nervous,” said Kate, before the shoot. “Normally, when you do shoots like this, you pretty much have to do what the photographer tells you. There’s nowhere to hide today as the look I go for is totally up to me. The pressure is definitely on.”