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Leto High competition was a hair-raising experience

Staff photo by CLOE CABRERA

Latara Giles portrayed a "Fairy Temptress" at Leto High School's Fantasy Hair Competition.

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By CLOE CABRERA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2009

TAMPA - Big hair, blue hair and hair adorned with pink feathers, tulle, golf balls, even candy went on display Wednesday night at Leto High School's Fantasy Hair Competition.

Ladies and one gent from Bay area schools competed in the name of art and a good cause - raising money for Leto's cosmetology program.

"It's so much fun, but it's a lot of work," said Leto senior Hilary Gray, who transformed senior Missy Kidd into "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark." "I spent about three hours teasing, spraying, bumping it up and working in the tulle," Gray said. "There's a lot of hairspray in there."

Approximately 70 students batted it out for the top hair prize and best-bouffant bragging rights.

Backstage, stylists put the finishing touches on their shellacked and pinned masterpieces.

"She's a Fairy Temptress," said Leto senior Katrina Young, standing beside Gaither High School junior Latara Giles. Giles sported fairy wings, extensions and a colorful hairy butterfly on her head. She was clad in a two-piece costume made of flowers, leaves and twigs. "I wanted her to have the entire look. I made it all myself. It was so stressful."

The models and stylists strutted onto the auditorium stage in pairs, showing their creations to the judges and a packed house.

Stylist Heather Odor, a Leto junior, gave her "Diamond Girl," Yanelis Perez, also a Leto junior, a once-over, making sure all of her bling was in place before hitting the stage.

"I want to make sure they sparkle and they don't fall off," she said of the rhinestones she'd sprayed over with blue hairspray.

A few minutes later, Leto grads Alexandra Ramariz and Adis Alonso pranced onto the stage to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi." The crowd erupted into cheers when Alonso shimmied her pink flamingo feathers.

"I can't believe how nervous I was," Ramariz said. "That was so exciting. I want to do it again."

When it was all over, top honors went to stylist Tainisha Martinez, a Leto senior who turned Alonso High School senior Jessica Burgles' hair into a big spray of peacock feathers.

"Oh my God, I can't believe we won," Martinez said. "I'm so happy, I'm going to cry."

Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656.

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