From national champions to WorldSkills contenders, the journey of excellence continues to Shanghai 2026. Priyanka Parshurami gets you insights from the India Skills 2026 and how winners in Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing prepare for WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai, marking a new era of skill excellence and global exposure.
The grand culmination of the IndiaSkills 2025–26 National Competition on April 2, 2026, spotlighted the country’s most promising talent across Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing. More than a competition, the event identified the India Skills Winners who will now represent the nation at the prestigious WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai, China.
Organised under the aegis of the Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC), the competition reflects a broader shift in the new era of beauty marketing, where skill excellence, national representation, and global benchmarking are becoming integral to industry growth.
Recognising National Champions:
In Beauty Therapy, Pratistha Ayonna (Gold) and Madhura Shelar (Silver) from Maharashtra emerged as top performers, alongside winners from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana.
In Hairdressing, Dambarudhar Barik (Gold) from Odisha led the category, followed by Jui Sapke (Silver) from Gujarat and other notable achievers across states.
These winners represent not just individual excellence but a growing ecosystem of skilled professionals. All of them are now prepared to compete on a global stage.
Industry Support and Leadership
The success of IndiaSkills 2026 was driven by strong institutional backing. The council acknowledged the guidance of Dr. Blossom Kochhar and the consistent efforts of Chief Experts Vaishali Shah (Beauty Therapy) and Atharva Takke (Hairdressing), who mentored participants from regional rounds to the national stage.
Monica Bhal, CEO, B&WSSC, emphasised, “IndiaSkills is not just a competition—it is a movement towards building a globally competitive workforce.”
Vaishali Shah, Founder and Director, LTA School of Beauty, also noted, “The level of preparedness and technical precision this year reflects how seriously India is approaching global skill benchmarks.”
Atharva Takke, Business Owner at U Takke’s Hair & Skin Institution, further added, “These winners are not just champions; they are future representatives of India’s creative and technical excellence.”
Building Towards a Global Stage
The selected champions will now undergo rigorous training to prepare for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, where they will compete against the best global talent.
This progression underscores a critical industry evolution where structured skill development, recognition platforms, as well as global exposure are shaping careers and elevating standards.
As India Skills Winners step onto the international stage, they carry not just medals, but the aspirations of an industry steadily aligning itself with global excellence defining the future of professional beauty and hairdressing.
