Hosted by actor, fashion model and TV host Eva Marcille ("America's Next Top Model"), "Hair Battle Spectacular" is returning for the second season on Monday, August 15 at 10pm ET/PT. This season, the competition series pits 11 of America's hottest stylists against each other to see who can deliver the biggest and best in fantasy hair design.
Part sculpture and part pop art, fantasy hair has become part of mainstream pop culture through icons such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. Each challenge requires contestants to create outrageous coifs that resemble everything from Hollywood stars to hounds and handbags. The Stylists then enter the ring to bring the drama and present their hair creations in a high octane and stylized performance. After each challenge, the judges -- award-winning fantasy hair designer Derek J, celebrity stylist Taylor Jacobson ("The Rachel Zoe Project") and a rotating guest judge -- critique The Stylists on creativity, execution and overall presentation. In addition to blow-by-blow drama in the arena, there is also the day-to-day drama between the cohabitating stylists who fight each week to stay in the game and win the ultimate prize of $100,000.
"Hair Battle Spectacular" is produced by 3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA with JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson serving as executive producers.
Meet the contestants:
Ashley Stone "Blondie" Hometown: Newington, CT After leaving a traditional high school to go to a specialized school where she received a cosmetology license, Ashley planned to do hair only as a "side gig" while attending the Fashion Design School in New York. However, she fell in love with hair instead and never looked back! A savvy businesswoman, Ashley owns two businesses: Salon Alexander and a traveling hair and makeup organization called Beauty Entourage. Known as a trendsetter, she often hosts charity events with her big hairpieces serving as conversation starters. Her five-year-old son is her inspiration and motivation.
Tyler True "Atomic" Hometown: Los Angeles, CA After only four years in the business, Tyler has become a hair expert for Brazilian Blowout and currently serves as the Director of the International Education Team for the company. For the last year and a half, he has focused his talent on styling a countless number of fashion shows, high-fashion runway hair, celebrities and fantasy and couture looks. As a self-proclaimed "hair scientist," he concocts his own formulas for color, precision cutting, balayage, and up-dos.
Jeannine Calia "J9" Hometown: Providence, RI At only five feet tall, Jeannine, or "J9" as she is notoriously known, packs a lot of swagger into a tiny package! Having already racked up an impressive list of credentials including the February cover of Retro Lovely magazine and repeat appearances as a key hairstylist for Providence's prestigious Fashion Week runway, she considers herself to be the only real competition. Ready to compete, she can't stand famous stylists who don't have the goods to back up the hype.
Gabriel Quinones "GQ" Hometown: La Puente, CA Gabriel picked up his first pair of clippers in the seventh grade when he got tired of his brother's friends cutting his hair. In 2007, he established and opened his own barbershop, GQCuts Hair Shop, in his hometown of La Puente, CA. He is the official "Party Rock" hair stylist for LMFAO and the Platform Artist/ Educator for Johnny B Hair Care. A control freak by nature, he has tried to take criticism over the years when it comes to his work, but he is not one to keep his thoughts bottled up inside.
Alessandro Vole "Bossa Nova" Hometown: Beverly Hills, CA With his Brazilian flair, Alessandro is sure to bring the heat to this competition. His passion for the arts can be traced way back to his childhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He learned his love for hair from his grandmother at an early age and has been mastering the art ever since. One minute he can be a suave Beverly Hills stylist and the next he's dancing to the beat, recounting his partying at Carnival. A constant flirt, he isn't afraid to charm his clients.
Spencer Lebowitz "Camouflage" Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA Spencer began his career as a barber in the U.S. Coast Guard but quickly learned that military life was not for him. As a fearless hairstylist, he will try anything and believes he can accomplish everything he dreams of. Unwilling to compromise, Spencer is not one to bite his tongue when it comes to confrontation.
Kristin Jackson "Dimples" Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Growing up with a U.S. Marine for a dad, Kristin knows discipline and strives to be the best at everything. Her artsy leanings put a spin on her pink-loving, "girly-girl" personality. While some girls collect dolls, she gets tattoos of her favorites, including Barbie! Only three years into her career as a stylist, Kristin styled pop star Katy Perry's "California Gurls" video. She is a tireless competitor who loves to one-up herself.
Bethany Bell "Queen B" Hometown: Moorestown, NJ Growing up as an awkward teen from a single-parent household, Bethany didn't really fit in. Unable to narrow down a major for college, her mother suggested hair school, where she found her true passion. While building her career as a hairstylist, Bethany went on to college to obtain a degree in business. She believes that hairstyling is not just an art form but also a way to touch people and inspire confidence. After becoming close with two clients and their autistic child, she created a non-profit organization called La Femme Hair Exhibition as a way to unite hairstylists and creativity while giving back to the community; all of the proceeds are directed towards autism research. While she admits to being a little materialistic and a bit of a diva, Bethany strongly believes in giving back.
Kirby Keomysay "Nostradamus" Hometown: Omaha, NB With his uncle serving as his inspiration and mentor, Kirby was running his first hair salon at the age of 15 in his parent's basement. After finishing high school, he entered the Capitol School of Hairstyling and won a North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA) in 2006. With a huge ego, he is not afraid to tell you all about the nice cars he drives and the successful salon he owns at such a young age. His goal is to "strive for excellence" and isn't afraid to push the limits of fantasy hair. This sense of adventure and pushing the boundaries carries into his personal life, which includes passion for fashion, food and dancing.
Dnise Brown "Bronx" Hometown: Bronx, NY A former mortuary science student, Dnise has a competitive edge and isn't afraid to run with it. She prefers the freedom and creativity of working freelance and lets her work speak for itself. Born and raised in the Bronx, she is ready to take on the West Coast and show Los Angeles what she has to offer!
Brenda Waters "Mz. H2O" Hometown: Smyrna, GA Dubbed "The Hair Whisperer," by her colleagues Brenda has more than 15 years of experience transforming ordinary hair in to extraordinary masterpieces. Losing her hair at the age of 6 from a botched chemical service ignited her passion for hair. A renowned Atlanta stylist, Brenda's work has been seen on the red carpet and in Sophisticate's Hair and Essence magazine.
About 3 Ball Productions/EyeworksUSA
3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA is one of television's most prolific producers of reality and non-fiction programming, both for broadcast and cable, including the hit franchises The Biggest Loser on NBC and ABC's Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, which is #1 in its time slot, helping secure ABC its longest total-viewer winning streak in 14 years. In addition to Hair Battle Spectacular, 3 Ball and Executive Producers JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson are producing for ABC The Revolution, which will premiere as a five-day-a-week daytime strip in 2012, as well as the series Roseanne's Nuts, Texas Women, What's Eating You, Forever Young, I Used to be Fat, Flying Wild Alaska, Love Triangle, Bar Takeover, and Triple Rush. 3 Ball's global franchise, Beauty and the Geek, continues to air in markets worldwide.
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