Beauty Competitions in Australia

Beauty competitions in Australia give stylists, barbers, skin therapists, nail designers and students a chance to be judged against the best in the country. Formats range from live floor contests to entries submitted with photos, so there is a way to compete whatever your style.

The WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Adelaide in June are the main stage for apprentices and students, with beauty and hair skills tested over several days and free entry for spectators. Hair competitors can enter the Hair Festival at ICC Sydney in late June, and the AHIA Creative Awards on the same weekend reward creative collections. Barbers head to the Gold Coast in April for the ANZ Modern Barber Awards. For skin, the Best In Skin Awards in Melbourne in May recognise therapists and clinics, and nail artists can enter the Global Nail Design Awards, which usually run each September.

Every beauty competition in Australia is listed below with dates, venues and who can enter or watch.

Travelling to compete

Competitions are held in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. The Adelaide Showground at Wayville is just south of the city centre and easy to reach by taxi or public transport. In Sydney, ICC Sydney is a short walk from Town Hall station.

Where to stay

For WorldSkills, the Adelaide city centre has plenty of hotels within a short trip of the showground. For the Hair Festival weekend, staying in Darling Harbour keeps you close to the competition floor and the awards.

Competition tips

• Read the rules and the brief for your category well before the day.
• Arrange your model early and do a full timed practice run.
• Pack a spare of every tool you rely on.
• Arrive early to set up calmly and see the competition area.