The Professional Beauty Association hosted the 37th annual North American Hairstyling Awards (PBA NAHA), presented by JCPenney, on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Hosted during Premiere Orlando at the Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fl., the annual photo-based competition celebrated professional beauty talent in 15 award categories, with entrants from across the United States and Canada.
The evening kicked off with a red-carpet cocktail reception, which featured a Masters of Artistry Lounge sponsored by Olaplex. We had a chance to catch up with finalists and attendees, including Contessa 2026 winners Michelle Oliver, Robin LaChance and James Valiant.
Leslie Perry, CEO of the Professional Beauty Association, took the stage with Michael Shaun Corby to welcome attendees.
Among this year’s award winners was Montreal-based salon owner Maggie Semaan, who won Editorial Hairstylist of the Year for a second-consecutive time. “This means so much to me,” she says. “I think this just means that when life beats you down to the ground, you better just stand back up and make sure you make it to the top.”
Congratulations to Michael Polsinelli, who’s originally from Toronto but now based in Los Angeles, who took home the win for Avant Garde. “I have never won anything in my life, so this is a first,” he says. “I feel blessed and have so much gratitude for what it is that we do. To stand up here in front of you is an honour.”
Both winners also gave special shoutouts to multi-award-winner Anna Pacitto—a 2026 PBA NAHA finalist for Master Stylist of the Year—who is credited with helping mentor and inspire their work.
Among the award presenters was multi-Contessa winner Josie Vilay, who introduced the Team of the Year category. “Every artist brings something essential into the process,” she says. “When all those elements align, the results become more than a collaboration. It becomes cohesion, movement, and the kind of creative chemistry you can feel in every image.”
The Team of the Year winner, The Upper Hand, thanked multi-Contessa winner Michelle Pargee, who mentored them on their winning collection. The Houston-based salon team also gave a shoutout to Toronto-based photographer, Natasha Gerschon.
Candy Shaw introduced the In Memoriam segment, which paid tribute to beauty pros who have passed away in 2025 and 2026, including multi-Contessa winner and 2025 PBA NAHA Hairstylist of the Year finalist, Dana Lyseng.
Shaw also presented the award for Educator of the Year to Nina Tulio. “When I started business education, nobody was listening,” says Tulio. “It was really hard. You work every day to be seen and be heard. Nine and a half years later, I never thought it would lead me to this.”
In addition to the awards, this year’s show featured two stage presentations including an avant-garde presentation by PBA NAHA 2025 Hairstylist of the Year winner, David Barron, and the Abyssal Collection by Antoinette Beenders for Aveda.
Barron later returned to the stage to accept his award for Master Stylist of the Year. “When I started this journey 18 years ago, it gets to the point where we’re a finalist [again and again], and I think in the last three years it has really come as a surprise to me,” he says. “You can be up here one day. It has taken me a long time, but I was never going to give up. Keep going.”
The night’s big winner was Brayden Pelletier, who won Hairstylist of the Year. He thanked his mentors Chris Baran, Sam Villa and Ruth Roche. “The work this year actually impressed me,” says Pelletier. “It’s probably the best work I’ve seen NAHA put out in a very long time. Wow! I’m actually shocked, shook and all the things.”
Congratulations to all the winners!
Avant Garde: Michael Polsinelli
@michael.polsinelli
Barber of the Year: Carlos Pagan
@drasticartbarbering
Editorial Stylist of the Year: Maggie Semaan
@maggiesemaan
Educator of the Year: Nina Tulio
@ninatulio
Haircolor: Brooke LeMasters
@brookelemastershair
Haircutting: Marylle Koken
@kokentheharlot
Hairstylist of the Year: Brayden Pelletier
@justbhair
Inspiring Salon of the Year: Genesis Salon and Spa
@genesis_salonandspa
International Collection of the Year: Tom Yek, Malaysia
@tomyek_decrypt
Makeup Artist of the Year: Patricia Bailes
@pbailesmua
Master Hairstylist of the Year: David Barron
@barronslondonsalon
Student Hairstylist of the Year: Derek Robinson
Styling and Finishing: Galyna Poczciwinski
@ufirami
Team of the Year: The Upper Hand, featuring Hannah Waters, Soleil Rocha, Jordan Dudley, and Zoe O’Day
@theupperhandriveroaks
Texture: Chrystofer Benson
@cbensonhair
Browse a gallery of photos from the event.
Photos courtesy of the Professional Beauty Association, Salon Staff
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