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Amidst the glitz and glamor of Brisbane Fashion Week 2022 (BFW22), Ben Wright will be a long way from the dusty, rural red streets of his Queensland hometown.
There he was, from the corner of a small Mount Isa news agency, he first opened the pages of Vogue magazine and immediately fell in love.
“I was only 14 when I bought Vogue in Mount Isa,” he laughs.
“I loved seeing the amazing hairstyles in those pages and dreamed of one day creating a look like that and being a part of that industry.”
Since then, the 24-year-old has found success working at an award-winning salon in Brisbane and behind the scenes at fashion shows and shoots – including Melbourne Fashion Week and Australian Fashion Week.
As he prepares for his new role as hair director for BFW22, Mr Wright recalls the moment he realized the world was for him.
“It was my nan who got me into hairdressing,” he said.
“I was always with her at school holidays and she was always one of those nanas who was dressed to the nines. I would go with her when she was in the salon having a perm, cut, color or blow-dry.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off what the hairdresser was doing – I was so impressed.”
‘The passion was infectious’.
From a young age, he learned by cheek about the clothes his mother bought him.
“As a child I loved fashion and I was always worried about what I would wear and all that.
“I’m pretty sure my mum stopped buying me clothes when I was nine or 10 because I didn’t want to wear anything she bought me.”
As soon as he could, Mr Wright walked into his favorite salon – Capricorn Hair Studio in Mount Isa – and asked for a job.
Owner Michelle Donald still remembers that day.
“I want to be a hairdresser, that’s all I want to be and this is where I want to work, if you’ll take me I’ll be happy to work for free,” she said.
“You don’t have to work for free,” I said, and that was that.
“He started work that Saturday. He was perfect and we hit it off right away. His enthusiasm and passion were infectious.”
From the salon to behind the scenes
Whether he’s on set or in the shop, Mr. Wright’s greatest inspiration comes from the people he works with.
“When you’re in a salon, you get this sense of excitement about making someone look and feel good and changing the way people feel about themselves,” he said.
“Seeing people so happy when they leave the salon, that feeling stays with you.
“Behind the scenes and on set, you get that adrenaline and excitement. It’s fast-paced, you’re working with so many different creatives in such a compressed atmosphere.
“It’s been a feeling I’ve loved since I started dancing competitively at Mount Isa and that’s stayed with me to this day and is a big part of why I love what I do.”
As his career moves into its next phase, the 24-year-old encourages others to join the industry.
“If you’re a little lost or curious about what the industry might look like, if you have a passion for hair, have a natural creativity, love people and high energy and what’s happening in the world right now, this is the industry for you,” he said.
“Come into the local salon and ask questions, put your hands up, even if you only do one day of work experience – give it a try. It’s not only a great job, it’s a great world to be a part of.”
For a first-time employer, his accomplishments are nothing short of astounding.
“It never ceases to amaze me to read and hear about Ben’s success,” Ms. Donald said.
“He’s destined for greatness and I’m so proud to know that as a kid from the woods with big dreams, he hasn’t let anything hold him back.”
Mr. Wright’s hair creations will be on display at BFW22 from August 22-26.
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