Students from South Tyneside College are celebrating outstanding success after competing in the Association of Hairdressers & Therapists Competition regional heat, held in the North East.
The 2026 National Competition Regional Heat took place at the Federation Brewery on Tuesday 31st March, bringing together colleges from across the country to showcase the very best in hairdressing and beauty talent.
Founded in 1963, the Association of Hairdressers & Therapists is a national network of industry educators committed to sharing best practice and supporting excellence. Its annual regional and national competitions provide students with the opportunity to showcase their skills in a professional setting.
Our students truly impressed the judges, achieving an incredible:
- Six 1st place finishes
- Two 2nd place finishes
- Five 3rd place finishes
- One 4th place finish
Students demonstrated exceptional creativity, technique and professionalism across a range of categories:
- Liepa Jakubauskyte – 1st Place, 1st Year Commercial Blow-Dry
- Maddison Thompson – 4th Place, 1st Year Commercial Blow-Dry
- Amie Davies – 3rd Place, 14–16 Evening Style
- Taylor Thompson – 1st Place, Commercial Feminine Cut and Blow Dry
- Courtney Gray – 2nd Place, Commercial Feminine Cut and Blow Dry
- Jessica Wells-Auchterlonie – 1st Place, Current Trends in Bridal Feminine Hair
- Jessica Wells-Auchterlonie – 1st Place, Feminine Inspired Evening Style
- Courtney Gray – 3rd Place, Feminine High Fashion
- Taylor Thompson – 3rd Place, Feminine Fashion Style on Textured Hair
- Liepa Jakubauskyte – 1st Place, Level 1 Access to Hairdressing Blow-Wave
- Ava Hall – 2nd Place, Level 1 Access to Hairdressing Blow-Wave
- Lily Mae Gardener – 3rd Place, Level 1 Access to Hairdressing Blow-Wave
Our beauty students also delivered fantastic performances:
- Charlotte Addison – 1st Place, Half Body Painting
- Alix McDonald – 3rd Place, Commercial Nail Art (Gel Polish)
A Proud Moment for Students and Staff
The competition provided students with the opportunity to showcase their skills in a professional, high-pressure environment—highlighting the talent, dedication and creativity developed during their studies.
Their success is a testament to both their hard work and the expert guidance of teaching staff, who continue to support students in achieving their full potential.
Next Stop: National Finals
Following their success at the regional heat, students will now go on to represent the College at the national finals in Blackpool, taking place on Monday 11th May 2026.
We’ll be sharing more of our students’ incredible competition looks and behind-the-scenes moments soon—so keep an eye on our social channels.
