Best of the Bay Winner Announced

Bay Bella Bridal Best of the Bay, sponsored by Bay Bella Publishing, is the premiere California Bay Area contest featuring the "best of" in bridal services. Bridal professionals from nine counties compete in nine categories for valued prizes including the coveted Best of the Bay title. Celebrity judges include Ken Paves, Kim Vo, Billy Lowe, Kevin Lee, Genevieve de Manio, Reva Alexander-Hawk, Brandy Gomez-Duplessis, Diann Valentine, and Ceci Johnson. Kron 4 Red Carpet Bay Area will cover the event.

Of 3300 contestants, winners in each county "best of" category including photographers, hair stylists, and wedding planners were selected Friday, October 29. These semi-finalists will compete in finals on November 18, 2010. Winners are announced at the Bay Bella "Bridal Best of the Bay" Red Carpet Awards dinner featured on KRON 4--Red Carpet Bay Area held at Rockwall Winery in Alameda, CA.

One local semi-finalist, awarded Santa Clara County's best bridal hair stylist, is Stephanie Jones of Hello Gorgeous Salon in Gilroy, CA. In an exclusive interview with Jones, I learned how she got her start as a stylist and how this contest will impact her career.

"Steph Jones" grew up in a hair salon with mentor and mom, Lori Oneal-Woisin, also an accomplished stylist. Oneal-Woisin had Jones blow drying hair and cleaning brushes at ten--introducing her to the trade that would later become her passion in life.

Jones joined an apprenticeship program learning her craft hands-on for five years under the watchful eye of a licensed master stylist. After receiving her license, Jones was ready for a change. She interviewed with Kristen Soseman, owner of Hello Gorgeous, one of the county's premier salons. Jones said she works with "the best team of stylists around." In fact, she credits some of her success to the hard, behind-the-scenes efforts of co-worker Angela Vaccaro. "Ang has been by my side throughout," said Jones, "Helping me every step of the way."

When asked what a typical day was like, both Jones and Soseman laughed. "You walk in and the energy is through the roof," said Jones, "I can't wait to get there". Each day holds something new and exciting, but the best part, Jones and Soseman agreed, is building relationships with clients, knowing you get to make someone feel good. "The idea of cutting hair is very personal. The idea of making someone feel better is the best part," said Jones. I asked her to tell me about one of those personal stories.

"There was a girl who went to another local salon. She asked if anyone had time to give her a completely different look--which is huge," said Jones. "It was Friday evening, everyone was getting off work, and so no one was interested in helping her. Before leaving town, she Googles for another salon and finds Hello Gorgeous. She walked in and asked the same question."

Immediately Jones was up for the challenge, anxious to help her, even though they were all walking out the door. Soseman and Jones stayed, and when it was all over, Jones said, "I rocked her world." That is the kind of personal service, and excellence that has earned Jones the title as best bridal stylist in Santa Clara County. Her customers love her.

In fact, it was one of her adoring clients that submitted their personal wedding photos as an anonymous entry. Over the last few years Jones did "a lot" of customized "up-dos" for wedding clients (estimated at 200). The entry came from one of those weddings.

When she got the call about the entry, she only had one day to prepare for the contest. Her model is a client from the NFL Raider's Cheerleaders who graciously agreed to accompany her. After the semi-finalist round, Jones got the call this past Friday that she won for Santa Clara County. She was "bouncing off the walls. There wasn't a dry eye in the place," according to Soseman. It has "already been a life-changing thing," said Jones. Soseman said she would probably have to "find another stylist for Saturdays" because Jones will be booked for the year because of this.

Jones now anxiously waits for the final competition on November 18. She regrets not knowing who the client was that entered her picture. She would like to thank her and sends out "good juju into the universe to her".

For ticket information to the Bay Bella Bridal Best of the Bay and KRON 4--Red Carpet San Francisco

Sources:
Interview with Sephanie Jones, Angela Vaccaro, and Kristin Soseman October 29, 2010 Hello Gorgeous Salon, Gilroy CA 95020
http://www.hellogorgeousgilroy.com/
http://www.rockwallwines.com/
http://www.baybellapublishing.com/
http://localshows.kron4.com/LocalShows/RedCarpetBayArea/tabid/208/Default.aspx