This Tri-City hairstylist helped Miss Universe prepare for the crown
In the moments before Zozibini Tunzi went on stage, Chauné Fitzgerald was fixing her hair.
The South African who was recently named Miss Universe is only the latest helped by the Richland hairstylist.
“A lot of times they’re so nervous. They need to have that final word of encouragement,” she said. “That’s the thing I’ve enjoyed is mentoring them when they go out.”
Fitzgerald recently returned as part of a team of 15 hairstylists from around the world who prepare contestants for the Miss Universe contest. She spend 14 days in Atlanta with the team helping about 90 contestants prepare for the contest in Atlanta.
A master cosmetologist, Fitzgerald owns Salon Remedi in The Parkway in Richland. She has become a fixture at the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, with nearly 10 years at both of the events.
She is also an educator for Farouk Systems which makes hair care products under brands such as Chi and Biosilk. The company sponsors the contests and sends the stylists.
While the pageants normally have taken her to locations such as Bangkok, Vietnam and Jordan, it was a special opportunity to have women from across the world to come to the United States.
“A lot of the girls had never been to the United States before, so they were really excited to be here,” she said.
She also had the chance to sit through a lot of the interviews where the contestants talked about the challenges they faced making it to compete at the highest level.
She said it was inspirational to hear the stories of how they lost only to continue striving for success.
Her work with women from around the world has led to friendships that transcend borders. She loves getting to be a part of their journey.
“I keep in touch with a lot of the girls,” she said. “I plan to go to Thailand this summer and I’m going to visit Miss Thailand and her family. I plan to visit Miss South Africa and her family.”
Fitzgerald was born into a military family. She has a masters of business administration from Troy University in Alabama.
She spent much of her life in the south before moving to the Tri-Cities with her husband when he got a job at Hanford. They have four children between them, including a daughter going to Carmichael Middle School.
Salon Remedi can be reached at 509-309-0559.