We’re thrilled to celebrate our Show Us Your Style competition winners for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, along with last year’s winner Ioana Todoran. Find out what they’ve been up to inside the Moroccanoil bubble at Turin’s Palo Olimpico.
Ioana Todoran
Ioana hails from Romania and is a multi-award winning hairstylist and Moroccanoil ambassador. We caught up with her inside the Moroccanoil bubble in the Palo Olimpico to find out what she’s been up to since wrapping up in Rotterdam and what it’s like to return to the team in Turin.
Last year, you won Moroccanoil’s first Show Us Your Style competition, which secured you a ticket to Rotterdam as part of the backstage stylist team at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Tell us about your experience and what it meant to you.
It was by far one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve ever had. At the time, we were in the midst of the pandemic, and there were still a lot of lockdowns globally, so it was such a surreal experience to finally be back at work, let alone as part of the Moroccanoil backstage stylist team at the world’s biggest music event. It was the first time I met a lot of the team, and everyone was so friendly and supportive. I had so much fun and it’s a memory I will never forget.
How has your life changed since wrapping up in Rotterdam?
My life has changed a lot! So many opportunities have opened up for me since working with the Moroccanoil team at Eurovision. When I returned from Rotterdam, I was invited to style hair for many major influencers and was invited to talk on television about hair trends, hair products, and what it’s like to be a hairstylist. I never imagined something like this would happen for me, but my experience with Moroccanoil at Eurovision has opened up so many doors for me and has really accelerated my career growth.
Now, you’re back again for Eurovision 2022 in Turin. What’s different about your experience with Moroccanoil this year?
It’s been quite different, actually. I arrived a week earlier alongside the expert stylist team, so I had more time to get to know the artists and their delegates. I was able to see and follow the process much sooner, which was really fantastic. Last year, I was new, in fact, everything was new! This year, I know almost everyone on the team, and honestly, I truly feel like part of the Moroccanoil family.
What’s it like working with Moroccanoil expert stylists and artistic team members like Antonio and Kevin?
Working alongside the likes of Antonio and Kevin has been extraordinary. I’ve enjoyed every minute and every second of it. They are so helpful, kind and inspirational and I am grateful and honored to be working in their team.
I have to say, stylists like Antonio, Kevin, Franck and Angelo aren’t just hair specialists, they are also experts in helping make artists, performers, and guests feel extremely comfortable, at home, and confident, even when there’s so much chaos, nerves, and excitement going on backstage—it’s really an art form and it’s exhilarating to watch—I’m learning so much.
This year, Moroccanoil invited six stylist competition winners to Eurovision, one of which is Sergiu Popa from Romania. We heard you have actually met before?
Yes, that’s true! He is one of my closest friends and colleagues and I’m really glad that one of my fellow Romanian stylists is joining me this year. Not only is he a wonderful stylist, he is also such a fantastic person, too. It’s such an honor for both of us to represent our country with Moroccanoil. We also have the opportunity to style the artists from our country which has been such a blast.
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What advice do you have for stylists like Sergiu and others who want to apply to the competition next year?
I say go for it! Follow your dreams and work hard to make your dreams a reality. My advice for this year’s Show Us Your Style winners is to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy your moment because you deserve it!
Show Us Your Style 2022 Winners
We hear from our competition winners inside the Moroccanoil styling booth.
Hailey Thome 🇺🇸
“I’ve already had one of the best days of my life here. I had the pleasure of assisting the team as they styled some of the artists, had a VIP backstage tour of the Palo Olimpico, and we got to watch the show.
Honestly, I thought meeting the artistic team and expert stylists would be intimidating, but Moroccanoil really presents themselves as a big family and they have proven this every single day here. When I arrived, everyone already knew who I was and introduced themselves to me right away, and I think that really shows their welcoming culture.”
Jaana Katariina Lauronen 🇫🇮
“I feel like I am best friends with all the stylist winners already—it’s such a great vibe here. My favorite part about styling hair at Eurovision is that you can really explore your creativity alongside the artist and the team, and you get to observe what really goes on behind-the-scenes at such a big event.”
Elena Kalashyan 🇺🇦
“This opportunity allows me to fully express myself and my creativity because we get to create styles for the stage, which is totally different to styling hair in the salon. I am extremely happy and grateful to be here, particularly considering what’s currently happening in Ukraine. This is the first time in a long time that I have felt happy and I have Moroccanoil to thank for that.”
Dorion Karlsson 🇸🇪
“I am so honored and humbled to be here and represent my country as part of the Moroccanoil backstage stylist team. We all immediately bonded and have been brought together by our passion for hair. Everyone is so helpful and respectful of each other, and it feels like a family to be honest. If you’re a stylist reading this, I’m telling you: you must apply for next year!”
Sergo Kirakosiani 🇬🇪
“This is a dream come true for me. I never in my life thought I would get an opportunity like this and I am forever thankful. The team is incredible and the atmosphere is like nothing else. I highly recommend every stylist apply for the competition next year—it’s worth it!”
Sergiu Popa 🇷🇴
“I really love the Then and Now theme this year—I love the combination of retro styles and modern styles. It’s really important to look back in the past in order to create the present. Moroccanoil has created so many opportunities for me. I love that I get to help style the Romanian artist, WRS, for this year and I get to work with the best stylists from all around the world, which allows me to really grow and develop as a stylist.”
