Hairdressing is not generally a competitive pursuit, but for Ms Whiston the entering the New Zealand category of the Australian Hair Fashion Awards allowed her to flex her creative muscles.
"This kind of work is not your bread and butter, there is such a creative world out there, its nice to tap into that.
"It’s so fun because it gives me that outlet,’’ she said.
The competition involved cutting wigs, which were then flown to Auckland to be photographed and judged alongside other competitors’ efforts.
Ms Whiston cut the wigs without knowing who would be wearing them, having not met any of her models until they sat in her chair to be styled ahead of a photoshoot.
"It wouldn’t have mattered what you put on them, they owned it and they brought it to life," she said.
Ms Whiston said she loved the shoot and "felt great" about the whole day.
"I just knew the collection was one of my favourites, I loved it regardless of the outcome.
Ms Whiston was awarded the title over nine other finalists who she described as "amazing competition".
"I knew majority of them, they were all different and definitely people I look up to," she said.
Despite not being able to attend the award ceremony Ms Whiston said since the announcement her phone "just lit up and hasn’t stopped".
"I was watching the livestream but I wasn’t refreshing my page, my daughter was the one who rang to tell me I’d won.
"I just thought oh my god.
"I didn’t think I was going to win, I genuinely was just so happy to be a finalist," she said.
Originally from Dunedin, Ms Whiston said community support was why she was here.
"The local support and clients are my lifeline, they are my biggest supporters and are why I do it,’’ she said.
Ms Whiston is looking ahead at the next steps in her career, with the launch of her new business, Koko Ro boutique hair studio, next week.
