Iranian Immigrant Engineers a Beautiful Career Pivot and Earns Professional Beauty Honor

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Elnaz Arman, a cosmetology student at Bellus Academy in San Diego, received the 2021 TrendVision "Future Star" Award. Sponsored by leading professional beauty brands including Wella Professional, Sebastian Professional, Nioxin, Kadus, Clairol Professional and OPI, the 2021 competition attracted more than 3,000 entries from across the U.S.

Almost as striking as Elnaz's dramatic competition entry is the radical career transformation she made following the pandemic. A chemical engineer who earned a master's degree in petroleum engineering, Elnaz immigrated to California from her native Iran in 2015 and accepted a position with Tesla. Despite the prestige of her job title, Elnaz always considered herself an artist at heart and during the Covid lockdowns, she thought about what she would do if she had just one week to live. "When I asked myself what I would be doing with my life if I had only a week to live; the answer was clear: I'd be a hairstylist," says Elnaz.

After enrolling in Bellus Academy in fall 2020, Elnaz immersed herself in the theory and practice of hairstyling and found it allowed her to pursue her passion for art and interest in science in a single vocation. "There is so much science and architecture in cosmetology," she says. "Color, light, and processes are all part of the hairstylist's craft."

Like many families in America and Iran, Elnaz's family steered her toward a career in science, encouraging her to pursue a career in medicine or engineering. And while she excelled in her engineering studies, Elnaz continued to pursue her passion for painting as a hobby. After losing some friends to Covid-19, she made an intentional choice to direct her professional energies toward her passion for art and beauty. And to jump-start her success, she took on the challenge of entering one of professional beauty's most rigorous competitions.

Jessica Guastella, NA Senior Manager, Portfolio Education at Wella Education said the Trendvision competition recognizes the confidence and passion that drive hairstylists to push their creative limits and embrace professional risk. "Moving out of your comfort zone is one of the hardest things to do as a beauty pro," she says. "Usually, it's a slow progression like trying a new technique or changing up a go-to-formula. However, entering a competition like the Beauty Envision Awards pushes young talent to take risks and go beyond what they thought possible. That's where the ultimate growth happens!"

The TrendVision competition challenges artists' creativity in a timed competition that showcases skill in color, precision cutting and styling. While Elnaz was surprised to win a national competition within a year of enrolling in beauty school, the winner's podium is not new to Bellus Academy. Two of its educators were finalists in the TrendVision competition and the school's students and staff have won multiple accolades, including the prestigious Intercoiffure "Best Academy – North America."

"Competitions and lifelong learning are integral parts of the hairstylist's journey, which is why Bellus Academy encourages students and educators to continually push artistic boundaries from their first day on campus," says Lynelle Lynch, owner of Bellus Academy.

Upon completing her cosmetology studies in fall 2021, Elnaz plans to pay her success forward by establishing an art-based academy and growing in her career as a licensed professional. But the biggest surprise of all she says is the reaction from friends and family regarding her career change. "I hear again and again that they see the joy I feel when I am styling hair," she says. "And I am so touched by the support of everyone at Bellus Academy who supported me on this journey – from educators who encouraged me as I worked against the clock to finish my look for the finals, to Bellus Academy's owner who was cheering me on from the front row of the awards ceremony." More information about Bellus Academy is available at https://www.bellusacademy.edu/

Remarking on the strong performance of Bellus Academy's team, owner Lynelle Lynch said team members' selection reflects the strong emphasis placed on competition. "Beginning on the first day of class, Bellus Academy students are encouraged to take their craft to the next level on the ultimate playing field – industry competitions that encourage young talent to push boundaries, channel their creativity and aspire for ever-higher levels of success.

Media Contact

Susan Miller, Bellus Academy, 765-620-2007, [email protected]

SOURCE Bellus Academy

Related Links

https://www.bellusacademy.edu/