Jonni Yeomans, owner of Jonni's Styling Salon in Kamloops.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kamloops hair salon now holds a trophy and full page spread in a national fashion magazine for their part in a collaborative fashion show that showcased Indigenous talent and beauty, while bringing awareness to an important issue.

Jonni’s Styling Studio won a first place award through the national Salon fashion magazine ahead of hundreds of other applicants across the country, called the John Steinberg Award for Community Service.

“The award recognizes salons who do community service and bring awareness to important issues,” said stylist at Jonni’s, Abra Yeomans. “We entered our work and won first place.” 

The article in Salon magazine’s Jan/Feb issue is a snapshot of the volunteer work the salon did at at the 2022 Indigenous Voices in Fashion show organized by Kim Coltman of Fashion Speaks International, where 30 Indigenous models hit the runway to bring awareness to murdered and missing Indigenous women, children and two spirited people.

Jonni's Styling Salon in Kamloops won a national award for community service through Salon magazine.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

Salon staff were able to collaborate with six Indigenous designers at the event to help get the models runway ready, but they had to think fast.

“The original salon from Vancouver had to drop out last minute and we were very honoured to step in,” Abra said. “We had less than 48 hours to put everything together and get the models ready. It was an honour to work with six different Indigenous designers.”

The fashion show was the result of work by Indigenous creators, designers, models and makeup artists.

“It wasn’t just about fashion and looks it was about bringing awareness to deeply important issue where everyone who was part of the show was connected to it in some way,” said model and makeup artist for MisMack Clean Cosmetics, Joey Roo, who also contributed. “It was incredibly healing being at the event. It was bittersweet bringing attention to such a sad thing while using our talent and art. If one person was helped by that show it was worth it.”

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The article will be read in salons across the country, and includes photography by Gary Ridsdale of Faulty Focus Photography.

“I feel so grateful to have Master Stylist and makeup artist Abra Yeomans, as well as our Junior Stylist Elizabeth McManus, as a part of our incredible team,” said owner of Jonni’s Styling Salon, Jonni Yeomans. “We were also honoured to work with Mohammad Shahsavari and Terry Thomas on the day of the fashion show.”

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The models featured in the article are Pandy Duplessis, Meredith Quewezance, and Kasey Robbins and the three designers are Ashley Michel of 4 Generations Creations, Lyn Kay of Ringing Bell Robes, and Carol LaBoucan of CreeAtions Leatherworks and Clothing.

“We are happy to bring more national attention to the missing and murdered Indigenous women as just one part of the collaboration that included many talents coming together,” said Jonni. “Everyone did their part.”

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