BKCCAD student Utkarsh Arya to compete for World Skills Hairdressing Competition 2019, Kazan

Kajol Vohra

Utkarsh Arya, a student of Blossom Kochhar College of Creative Arts and Design became the national hairdressing champion when he won the final rounds of India Skills Hairdressing Competition held from 8th May to 10th  May 2019. Utkarsh will now represent India for Hairdressing competition at 45th World Skills Competition 2019 which is to be held at Kazan, Russia in August this year.

Samantha Kochhar, the Chief expert, Hairdressing, India, and also the Deputy Chief expert, Hairdressing, Worldskills, who supervised the competition said, “ It was a journey that started with 50 competitors that went down to 20 then top 10, top 5 , top 3, top 2 and then 1, the winner. Utkarsh has proven himself as the best one to be chosen to represent the country. I wish him all the best as the modules are tougher this time and we have more competitors than the last world skills competition. So, I wish that the best hairdresser wins.”

The judges Milan Bhatia from Big boss salon and Institute, Atharva Takee from U takke’s Institute for hair and skin, Rupa Ambedkar from Uber salon, spa and skin clinic and Mrunal Dongre from Saundarya salon  governed the competition for three days and the results were announced on 11th May by Beauty and Wellness sector skill council under the guidance of NSDC.

Utkarsh, who was clearly overwhelmed after winning the three day tedious competition  quote, “ I am short of words. I feel grateful to be chosen as a representative of India at world skills and will not miss this opportunity to make my country proud.”

Utkarsh has won the National skills Hairdressing Competition organized by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) earlier this year and has now qualified after the final phase to represent India for Hairdressing at the biggest International competition for skill excellence and training. India Skills is an initiative of NSDC leading the country’s participation at the WorldSkills International Competitions since 2011 with the vision of ‘Empowering India through skills’.

Hailing from the small town of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Utkarsh is the youngest son of the family and has become an inspiration for everyone back at home who wishes to build a career that is not depended on academic scores. Utkarsh has been a champion in the India skills competition for hairdressing with a streak of golds and silvers from zonals to national levels.

Looking back at his journey now, Utkarsh said, ” Before coming to this field of hairdressing, I had no plans about what to do with life. I was always interested about how styled I am, and use to make different hairstyles on my own. That’s when my brother suggested to become a hairdresser, and from that day to now, my life has changed completely. This field has not only groomed my skills, but has contributed a lot to my personality. From a careless boy with no goals in life, I have become a national champion with the only aim of bringing gold for my country.”

Utkarsh has been training at BKCCAD for the competitions with the mentors and has started to gear up for the intensive training to win the World skills. He added, “I started my journey of hairdressing with BKCCAD and did my basic and advance level education in hairdressing with mentors who are well trained and have experience as well as the knowledge of upcoming trends and techniques. During my training for National skills, they taught the best ways of blending my own instinctive skills with the practical applications. That’s how I have understood the art and science of hairdressing which will help me further in the World skills.”

Blossom Kochhar College of Creative Arts and Design is a premiere institute that empowers young minds to excel in the field of beauty, hair and make-up. BKCCAD has been training its students to be competitive and participate in the competitions from zonal, regional to national and international standards. A. Karan, India’s representative in hairdressing for Worlds skills 2017 was also a student of BKCCAD.