Award winning Marcia Johnson is a dedicated stylist that enjoys making people look beautiful and believes good customer care is her key to success.

'Sensational Icon'

Marcia Johnson is first ever 'Sensational Icon'

STYLE icon and pop star Lady Ga Ga was the inspiration for the winning hand dealt by multiple national hairdressing champion Marcia Johnson when she entered the first ever 'Sensational Icon' competition to be held in the UK.

Marcia's interpretation of the Lady Ga Ga song 'Poker Face', using hairpieces structured like cards and dominoes, won her first place and a new national title at the annual Alexandra Palace show run by the magazine Afro Hair & Beauty.

A former student of the College of North West London at Wembley, Marcia, from Harlesden, began to win awards in 2002. She has often been a prizewinner in different categories at Ally Pally. But she decided to try something new this year because her daughter Rianna, 4, is a big fan of Lady Ga-Ga.

The new contest is sponsored by American manufacturer Sensational, who make hair extensions and other products. The show at the end of May attracts thousands of visitors every year

Now Marcia's winning 'Sensational Icon' collection - two avant-garde hair pieces in lemon and white, plus two complementary weave styles - are on display in her salon Rougz in Finchley Road, Hampstead, to the delight of her daughter and her clients.

Said the champion: "I was inspired by my daughter when I was looking for an icon to portray. She loves Lady Ga Ga, and I thought that would be perfect. I used dots and a big yellow bow like she does. Life has been very challenging and tough because of the credit crunch, but my clients are faithful, and they’re quite mixed because I do all types of hair."

In three years studying at CNWL, Marcia never won the national college Afro-Caribbean hairdressing title - she came second. CNWL as a College has won the title four times – three times in the last three years.

But Marcia has made up for it since, becoming the most successful hairdressing prizewinner the College has ever produced. Her latest win is her fifth first place win in two years – alongside many second and third prizes.