Kate creates a top award

Her creative talents are as big and bright as her crowning glory hairstyle – and they've landed Wolverhampton's Kate Hubbard a national hairdressing award.

The 23-year-old from Oxley is the winner of the inaugural Clothes Show Young Hairdresser of the Year. Kate, who works at Royston Blythe hair salon in Compton, was one of 250 hairdressers – all under the age of 30 – who entered the contest by sending in a photo of a style they had created.

Twenty made it to the final at the NEC where they each had to recreate their photographic entry in front of an audience of hairdressers and shoppers at the Clothes Show Live. Kate's model was Hannah Davies, a colleague from Royston Blythe.

Judges, including award-winning stylist Lisa Shepherd from Kidderminster, then selected the six grand finalists to take part in a catwalk presentation. Kate clinched the prize, which includes £1,000 cash, a trophy and a photo shoot with Hairdressing Journal and Your Hair magazine.