Empire Tucson Student Earns National Recognition
Congratulations to Kasandra Olivera-Carlotta, a student at Empire Beauty School in Tucson, AZ, who has been awarded the AACS & L’Oréal Student Stylist of the Year – Best in Color! Kasandra was selected as one of only twelve finalists nationwide and traveled to the CEA Conference in Orlando to receive her award.
Tired of working a job she had no passion for, Kasandra decided it was time to chase her dreams. From collecting fashion magazines as a child to pursuing a hands-on education at Empire Beauty School, her path became clear: she was meant to be in the beauty industry.
With a natural competitive streak and a passion for creativity, Kasandra seized the opportunity to enter the national competition.
“I have always been a competitive person; I like to strive for more. My educator came to us one day about this contest, and I knew I had to do it. It took me three weeks to complete my look. I love the look of big, voluminous curls. I knew others would go for an Avant-garde look, so I decided to create a look that a regular, everyday person would ask for. Something very natural. This is a look that someone could ask for and want in the normal day-to-day. At the end of June, I received an email that stated I was one of twelve finalists for this contest. I was so surprised, it was a great feeling. I felt like my hard work meant something. I was so proud of myself,” shares Kasandra.
As a finalist, Kasandra experienced a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando, where she met with the other finalists for the awards ceremony.
“It was absolutely surreal. I am very thankful for this opportunity. I was able to bring a friend with me, we stayed in Orlando and went to Disneyworld. It was such an unforgettable experience. I was able to meet other finalists and educators. They called the finalists on stage, and I was so excited. He announced my name as the winner, and it felt like everything happened so fast. I was shocked; it was surreal. I will always remember this,” shares Kasandra.
Lesha Neal, Executive Director at Empire Beauty School in Tucson, AZ, acknowledges Kasandra’s dedication and passion:
“Kasandra is an amazing young lady! She shows her passion and creativity in all that she does. She strives for satisfaction from her clients to give them the desired looks they request. Kasandra has a true gift and shares her love for the beauty industry with her fellow classmates, educators, clients and all around her. She is an excellent student nearing graduation and has put her all into everything she has learned. I am not surprised that she did so well for this contest, she worked hard and put her heart into this piece of work. I am so proud of her for this big win and we here in Tucson look forward to continuing watching Kasandra grow in this beautiful industry of Cosmetology.”
Reflecting on her time at Empire Beauty School, Kasandra highlights the hands-on learning environment that helped her feel confident and career-ready.
“I did not expect so much hands-on practice that we do at Empire. I chose Empire because on my tour I saw how everyone was working on something. There was music playing and people talking while being creative. I said this is where I want to go. As a student, there are always fun competitions and opportunities to work with people. My educators care about my future career and my education. I feel like I was able to learn so much from my educators. I genuinely feel ready to take on this career. Through Empire, it truly gets us ready to go out there.”
Along with the hands-on training, Kasandra expresses how the educators supported her throughout her journey.
“I want to give a shoutout to my educator, Annette Andree. She gave me the confidence for this competition, telling me to go for it. It was my creativity, but she kept telling me I could do it. I feel like she has always been there for me, telling me to do my best and believing in me.”
After this experience, Kasandra grew confident in her craft and places no limit on her goals.
“I have always been a hard worker and believed that anything could be achieved through persistence and hard work. This experience showed me that I can be confident in my craft, and I can strive for more. It makes me feel optimistic about my future career. I feel like there is no limit to what you can achieve,” notes Kasandra.
If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, follow Kasandra’s advice.
“You can learn and take what you want from beauty school as much as you want. You can create and shape this career as you want to. All you have to do is try and go for it. Do things that make you uncomfortable. When you are confused and uncomfortable, that means you are learning and growing. Put yourself out there, especially by keeping up with social media. Keep trying your best. Do things that scare you. You won’t succeed at everything; you’re there to learn. Don’t be afraid to mess up and try again. Comfort is the enemy of success,” expresses Kasandra.
Kasandra, congratulations on this tremendous achievement! We are so proud of you for exploring your passion and pushing past your comfort zone. We are excited to see what your future holds.
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