Brushes at the Ready as the Shaz Awards Return for Fifth Year!!
Monday, May 19, 2014
What girl doesn't love her make up?? Well if you're a girl like me, you litterally cannot live without it and while I like to think I'm quite apt with a blusher brush, my make up skills certainly cannot compare to the talented make up professionals here in Northern Ireland! I really enjoy checking out the truly amazing make up looks created for various advertising campaigns and creative photoshoots here in NI and it's with this in mind that I'm really looking forward to the return of "The Shaz Awards"!!!
Returning this summer for the fifth consecutive year, The Shaz Awards, are Northern Ireland’s leading make up industry awards, and was founded by Belfast woman Ciara Daly who has been working in the make-up industry for over a decade. The Awards will be returning to AM:PM’s Cabaret Supper Club this June along with two new additional categories!
Ciara’s Lisburn Road based make up academy is one of Ireland’s most sought after training facilities, offering courses for beginners to the more experienced artists; and it has created and nurtured some of Ireland’s freshest creative talent. The Ciara Daly range of brushes and make up products are also sold worldwide but these awards celebrate the talent closer to home.
Ciara said, “I’m beyond pleased that the Shaz Awards are back for the fifth year in a row. Each year I’m blown away by our students’ skills and talent, but also by their inspirational stories and the work of other artists out there, because not all categories are limited to our own students and former students.”
She continued, “I think it’s great to see so much talent coming through, and with so many blockbuster films and TV series being filmed here in Northern Ireland, there is a real opportunity for make-up artists to gain fabulous experience and hone their craft.”
The awards are named after Ciara’s mother Sharon, affectionately known as Shaz, who passed away suddenly in 2006. They aim to celebrate and encourage creative talent within the burgeoning make up industry by celebrating excellence and creativity. Additionally, the awards support ‘Feeding Dreams’ charity, which is a charity founded by former student and Ciara’s long term close friend Arlene Gormley who uprooted from Belfast to help build schools for disadvantaged children in Cambodia. Feeding Dreams provides free education to four hundred children and young adults.
Ciara said: “I have been inspired over the years by so many of my students who have gone through difficult times and instead of letting it get the better of them, they’ve put their energy into learning a new skill in make up artistry and turning it into a real positive. That’s why I created the Phoenix Award in the first year and this usually goes to the artist who has inspired me the most by rising from the ashes so to speak.”
She continued “Although the awards are predominantly considered to be a celebration of those working in make up, they’re also designed to celebrate other creative talents aligned with the industry. That’s why I’ve ensured to include awards for photographer of the year, hairdresser of the year and model of the year who make up artists obviously work very closely with. I wanted it to be a celebration of all talents within this exciting and creative industry.”
The judges for the awards will include fellow make-up artist DJ Griffin, artistic director of Toni and Guy Ireland Ciaran Green, photographer Ross McKelvey and fashion designer and milliner Grainne Maher. There will be ten categories which are Student of the Year, Photoshoot of the Year, Face of Ciara Daly, Photographer of the Year, Hairdresser of the Year, Outstanding Team Member, Retailer of the Year, Model of the Year, a Creative Make Up Award and Ciara’s personal favourite, the Phoenix Award.
The awards will take place on Sunday 22nd June at AM:PM’s Cabaret Supper Club at 8pm. Tickets to the awards are available now from www.ciaradalymakeup.com and are priced at £20 which will include a bottle of Peroni on arrival, live entertainment and a goodie bag!
