Q&A with 2021 Contessa Winner Vicky Busque, Texture Hairstylist and Quebec Hairstylist of the Year

We spoke with Vicky Busque from Drummondville, Que., who took home the Texture Hairstylist of the Year award and the Quebec Hairstylist of the Year award at the 32nd annual Contessa Awards.

How does it feel to be the winner of Texture Hairstylist and Quebec Hairstylist?

I am very honoured to have won those two awards! I’ve been entering the Contessas for several years but it’s the first time I won, and in two categories on top of it! I am very moved.

What made you decide to enter this collection into Contessas this year?

I take part in competitions every year. It’s a great opportunity to create and share my inspiration given the scale of the Contessa awards. Creating a collection is a privileged moment for me to push my limits and share my artistic vision. It already is a gift for me to be in the creative process of putting a collection together. It’s a precious moment where time stands still—where the only thing that matters is pure creation.

What is the inspiration behind this collection?

My inspiration came from the Victorian era. I wanted to represent texture in my collection and to go back to basics, to essential raw textures and basic geometric shapes. The accessories from that time were also an inspiration, like the collar, fabrics like lace, and also the styling with bare shoulders. In terms of colour, I wanted to represent the era with natural, matte and raw colours to highlight texture in a pure way.

What are other things that inspire your work? Who are some of your creative mentors or inspirations?

When I start creating a collection, I let my state of mind guide me to where I think I could learn the most in the process of creating a collection, pushing back my limits as much as possible. The research I do at the beginning of the creative process is essential because it guides my creative choices later on. I find inspiration in different things, such as styling, photography, architecture, textures, patterns, eras, the emotions I wish to convey in a photo, movements or inspirations I want to highlight.

What are some of the techniques you used?

In terms of techniques, I went back to the basics of blow-drying, in other words, giving the hair the desired shape. I set different strands of hair in a figure eight (8) on a bobby pin, then I dried and heated them to give them a new shape that was super curly. I then let my mind create a different geometric shape on each model.

Does your collection have a name?

Victoriennista

What’s it like to win not one but two Contessas in one night?

It really is beyond what I imagined! I was so surprised and proud at the same time that it took me a few days to realize that I achieved those amazing victories.

Do these wins make you want to keep entering Contessas?

Of course! I hope to again have the privilege to push my limits even further and win more Contessa awards. And in other categories, who knows! It is so exciting and motivating to enter the Contessas!

What does it mean to you to end off the year with a win like this?

Winning two Contessa awards is icing on the cake. The awards make me realize how persistent I am, because I have been entering competitions for many years. As a stylist working in a salon and as a teacher, I hope to inspire the new generation of stylists to persevere and pursue their dreams.