Winner Chosen For Meleesa The Salon’s First-Ever Makeover Challenge

Ann Jeanette Alexander has been chosen as the winner of the first-ever Makeover Challenge at Meleesa The Salon in Huntington Beach. Ann’s incredible transformation and a remake of her wedding day captured the attention of many who voted in the salon’s makeover contest.

Salon owner Meleesa Miller decided it was no time to be sitting around worrying about how the economy was going to impact her business. Instead she and her crew got busy and created their own buzz while having fun and revving up business in the process. They split the salon into two teams, held a casting to choose two worthy makeover recipients and went to work completely re-creating the two contestants.

Cara Wojceshonek, a self-proclaimed “tom boy” wanted to look more lady-like and feminine. Hair stylist and makeup artist Cerissa Cain and her partner hair stylist Adrienne Farnworth took on the challenge of making over Cara into a perfect picture of feminine grace with a twist of va-va voom. Cara states “I always like to change my look, but boy, I didn’t know what I was in for”. Cerissa and Adrienne did a complete overhaul on me and I barely recognized myself”. I received so many compliments that

it was such a boost to my confidence.

Ann Jeanette Alexander was a recent bride and new mom, but her wedding look was not what she had pictured for her “perfect day”. Previously, Ann had struggled with her weight, but had recently taken steps toward her transformation by dropping sixty pounds. She answered an ad placed by Meleesa The Salon and was chosen for the makeover. Her team was comprised of Meleesa herself, hair stylist Jamie Kindschuh and makeup artist Kim Borio. After putting their beauty brains together, the team decided to “go vintage” and recreated Ann’s wedding portrait to reflect the newly-minted Hollywood glamour girl she had become.

After making over the two women, the teams put together two photo shoots with Huntington Beach photographer Jim Kennedy. They captured the process of the transformation of Cara and Ann, the photo shoot experience itself and the stunning end results. The women also recieved wardrobe for their photo shoots selected by their salon team. Ann can be seen in her winning photo wearing a couture wedding dress by Huntington Beach bridal designer Stephanie James.

Regarding Ann’s makeover experience she says “I got the most peaceful, relaxed vibe from the salon. Everyone seemed like they were at home-among friends. It was a privilege to work with Meleesa. Jamie, Kim and the photographer Jim Kennedy. I have gotten so many compliments and it was such a good experience”.

After the haircutting, coloring, airbrush makeup and photo shoots Meleesa and her crew went to work promoting the contest to their clients and the Huntington Beach community by way of flyers, posters and their web site. Over five thousand people logged on to the site to vote for the two contestants with Ann and her team emerging as the winner after the votes were tallied.

Everyone at the salon and Jim Kennedy Photography thought this experience was so much fun and so rewarding that they have decided to team up for future endeavors. Meleesa The Salon will pair up with Jim Kennedy Photography to offer makeovers for Kennedy’s “For His Eyes Only” bourdoir photo sessions. See www.forhiseyesonly.com for details.

As for the contest, the real prize was the chance for two women to reclaim their self-esteem; their inner and outer beauty revealed-and it was all captured on film for them to remember and cherish.

Meleesa The Salon plans to have their next Makeover Challenge in May 2009. They will be looking for more contestants soon. For info on the salon see: www.meleesathesalon.com