Cutting a path for the next generation at the 2026 Elite Barber and Beauty Summit
BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)-Barbers, beauty professionals, and aspiring stylists came together on the Coast for the 2026 Elite Barber and Beauty Summit, a showcase of skill, education, and opportunity with some of the industry’s top talent.
The Mississippi Elite Barber and Beauty Summit brought many people to the Coast Coliseum, showcasing the talent, creativity, and passion behind the beauty industry.
The summit featured educational sessions from industry leaders, live barber and beauty competitions, networking, vendors, and entertainment for attendees. Event Organizer Ricky Atkins said, “Last year alone was something that made me feel like the barber industry was getting taken away from me because I ended up getting locked up. It was just the love from everybody that was in the barber industry that helped me get out. So, I was like you know what let me bring the people that inspired me, the people that helped me grow here, to Gulfport where I’m from and help uplift people that’s like myself.”
The competition was fierce in categories including barber mania and freestyle cuts, where contestants vied for a share of more than $5,000 in cash prizes, along with trophies recognizing the event’s best performers. Show Manager and Hair Education Director Lici Quintero said, “It was shunned upon for women to be barbers, we didn’t belong in barbershops, we weren’t good enough to participate in these events. I was a strong believer that you can’t tell me what I can’t do. So, to see that we have more women going up on the stage, braiders, locticians, lady barbers, we got wig specialists. I would not be who I am today, if it wasn’t for the competitions and if it wasn’t for these shows.”
Beyond the competition, the summit focused on the next generation providing future barbers and beauty professionals with the education, mentorships, and opportunities needed to succeed in the industry.
