American Crew, a professional leader in men’s grooming, announced Sergey Shapochka, Kiev, Ukraine, as the Global Winner of the 2014-2015 All-Star Challenge, the annual global competition to recognize the best men’s hair stylists in the world!
The American Crew All-Star Challenge is widely considered one of the top men’s grooming competitions. The Challenge focuses on the art of men’s grooming – creativity, technique and one’s interpretation of masculinity in the modern world.
10,000 stylists from over 40 countries entered the competition, with the following country finalists chosen to represent on the global stage tonight in Rome: David Andreas Kyrkiris (Canada), Kevin Birk (Denmark), Guillaume Fort (France), Marcel Kuchenbrod (Germany), Zsanett Fabian (Hungary), Sergio Criscino (Italy), Armando Rivas de la Cruz (Mexico), Inger Lise Moa (Norway), Jaime Ruiz Tello (Peru), Krzysztof Chodorski (Poland), Raul Santana (Spain), Homan Taghizadeh (Sweden), Leonard Cakolli (Switzerland), Sergey Shapochka (Ukraine) and Alyssa Brasket (USA).
The global judging panel for this year’s competition was: David Raccuglia, founder of American Crew; Sergi Bancells, General Manager USA, Spain and Latin America, Estetica Magazine; Jerome Kantner, 2013-2014 All-Star Challenge Global Champion; Wayne Gross, Fashion Director, Maxim Magazine; and Paul Wilson, Artistic Director, American Crew, Co-Owner and Creative Director, Art+Science Salon, Chicago.
Meet Sergey Shapochka!
Sergey started his journey as a hairstylist in 2007, while preparing to graduate from university. He was studying finance and realized that paperwork was not his destiny. “I always wanted to use my imagination and create something beautiful, so I found myself working as a salon assistant. I began my hairdressing career at Beauty Zone salon in Kiev, and through the years I’ve attended training courses with Paul Mitchell and Sassoon Academy, completed editorial work and created 12 hair collections as a stylist and photographer,” explains Shapochka.
Grooming Must-Have: “Fiber, Ultramatte and Defining Paste.”
Favorite Male Celebrity Hairstyle: “Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, George Clooney, Brad Pitt.”
Best Advice You’ve Ever Received: “Keep in mind – you’re only as good as your last haircut.”
How has American Crew + men’s grooming influenced your styling? “American Crew products give me the freedom to create any style I desire, and I have all the options to meet the needs of my clients.”
What was the inspiration for your winning style and what products did you use to create it? “I was inspired by the movies of the ‘60s and ‘70s, including “Rebel Without a Cause,” “The Wild One” and “You Only Live Twice.” These were films with real men: discreet, elegant, genuine, with fewer words and deeper meaning. My winning look combined the character and style of these film heroes with a modern perspective.”