Canada's premier beauty & style industry experts enlisted to judge Canada's Best Beauty Talent

13 of Canada's industry experts in hair, makeup and style join host and supermodel Coco Rocha on six-part original web series by L'Oréal Canada and Rogers Media

TORONTO, March 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Lights, Camera, Glamour…now Work It!  The countdown is on for the premiere of the all-new, digital, reality series Canada's Best Beauty Talent from Rogers Media and L'Oréal Canada.  And 13 of Canada's foremost experts in hair, makeup and style have been tasked with judging the contestants as they fight for the coveted title of Canada's Best Beauty Talent.

Known throughout the beauty industry for their knowledge and dedication to their craft, Canada's Best Beauty Talent will feature renowned hair and makeup experts to judge what will become Canada's ultimate competition.

During each episode, the media experts will evaluate artistry and passion, while the hair and makeup experts lend their technical expertise to the judging panel. Together, they will determine who moves on and who will go home, until the ultimate winner is crowned.

Joining them will be celebrity judges - including JUNO nominated singer/songwriter Mia Martina - who will provide insider know-how of what it takes to make it in today's highly competitive industry.

Canada's Best Beauty Talent is a six-part original web series that showcases the nation's most promising hair and makeup artists.  The series will run online premiering April 8, Sunday and Monday nights on www.bestbeautytalent.com, following the television broadcasts of Canada's Got Talent on Citytv.  Additional details will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Meet the Judging panel…

Special Appearance

Mia Martina is the co-writer and voice behind Canada's Best Beauty Talent theme song. The popular JUNO nominated singer/songwriter delivers a customized rendition of her current Gold-selling hit single "Burning" to open and close each episode of the competition. Mia first climbed to the top of the charts with her double Platinum single "Stereo Love" with Edward Maya, and has performed with Flo Rida, Keri Hilson, Pitbull and Snoop Dogg.  The Canadian beauty has also just signed a brand partnership with L'Oreal Professionnel.

Hair & Makeup Judges

Eden Bluestein creates enchanting looks for Yves Saint-Laurent beauty.  Her work as one of Canada's leading makeup artists can be seen on various television programs and at high-profile fashion shows, awards and red carpet events.

Eric Del Monaco is the Official Hair Artist and Colourist for L'Oréal Paris in Canada. A beauty trendsetter, Eric has led backstage at Fashion Week and TIFF.  His fresh and unconventional break-all-the-rules artistic approach to hair has made him one of Canada's most popular and trusted hair experts.

Daniel Fiorio is one of Canada's foremost hairstylists, and is highly regarded for his fashion flare.  A member of the Haute Coiffure Francaise and successful owner of three salons, Daniel's work has appeared in numerous fashion and beauty magazines and on the runways of countless Fashion Weeks.

Eddie Malter is the Official Makeup Artist for L'Oréal Paris in Canada. Eddie has worked on some of L'Oréal Paris biggest events around the globe, including the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto Fashion Week and TIFF. Through his makeup artistry and passion, Eddie has become one of Canada's top beauty experts.

Anna Pacitto is Artistic Director for L'Oréal Professionnel Canada, a member of Haute Coiffure Francaise, and owner of 12 salons and a hairdressing academy. Winner of numerous national and international competitions, Anna is a master judge and prestigious guest artist on world stages, with the innate ability to forecast and create fashion-forward looks.

Lora Spiga is the Official Makeup Artist for Lancôme in Canada. Lora has collaborated with top fashion designers and talented Lancôme artistic directors, and her looks have been featured in numerous beauty and fashion shows, photo shoots and videos.

Media Judges

RESIDENT JUDGE Lisa Tant will preside over every challenge. As the Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher of FLARE, Canada's fashion magazine, Lisa is recognized as one of the country's leading beauty and fashion experts. She is frequently featured as an expert on various lifestyle, talk and entertainment shows.  Under Lisa's leadership, FLARE continues to set the standard for Canadian fashion and beauty.

Julia Cyboran is Editor-in-Chief of LOULOU magazine and the LOULOU website. In her role, Julia drives the content vision for the brand across all platforms,  including emerging technology like the iPad, and combines her passion for fashion and beauty with her extensive experience in print, web and broadcast journalism.

Alison Eastwood is Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! Canada. An award-winning journalist, editor and TV personality, Alison helped launch HELLO! Canada in 2006 and has shaped the weekly magazine's content, which includes intimate celebrity profiles, international fashion and beauty news, and coverage of the Royal family. Under her leadership, HELLO! Canada has become the No. 1-selling Canadian magazine on newsstands.

Catherine Franklin is Chatelaine magazine's Beauty and Fashion Editor. She has a long history of covering the beauty/fashion beat, including stints as Beauty and Health Editor for ELLE Canada, Style Director at Wish, fashion director at FASHION magazine and buyer for Holt Renfrew.

Mary Kitchen is the Entertainment Anchor for Citytv News. She can be seen bringing viewers all things entertainment on the 5pm, 6pm and 11pm Citytv news casts and every Wednesday morning on Breakfast Television. Mary continues to draw from her experiences traveling around the world interviewing entertainers and fashion royalty for Fashion Television Channel, Red Carpet Diary, eTalk, ET Canada, The Marilyn Denis Show and CBC's Fashion File Host Hunt.

Tracy Moore is the host of Canada's longest-running daily lifestyle show, CityLine. During the popular Fashion Fridays, Tracy can be seen sizing up the latest fashions with makeovers, beauty tips and tricks, trying DIY projects, and learning new recipes. An energetic mom to two, Tracy is known for her laid-back style, easy laugh and love of fashion.

Canada's Best Beauty Talent is the first talent search of its kind in Canada to be featured solely on a digital media platform and will showcase a variety of the country's most skilled and promising beauty artists. Each webisode will see hair and makeup stylists teamed up to create a specific look, corresponding with the theme of each week's challenge, in hopes of impressing the panel of judges and being named Canada's Best Beauty Talent. This original digital series is a celebration of the thriving Canadian beauty industry and its multitude of skilled professionals.

Visit www.bestbeautytalent.com, follow us on Twitter @BeautyTalent, and "like" us on Facebook for the latest updates, info and announcements.

About L'Oréal Canada
L'Oréal Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L'Oréal Group, the largest cosmetics company in the world. Headquartered in Montreal, L'Oréal Canada has sales over $850 million and employs more than 1,200 people. The company's prestigious brand portfolio of over 25 brands includes Kérastase, L'Oréal Professionnel, Redken, Matrix, L'Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, Essie, Ombrelle, Lancôme, Biotherm, Yves Saint-Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Kiehl's Since 1851, Viktor & Rolf, shu uemura, Diesel, Roger & Gallet, Vichy, SkinCeuticals, La Roche-Posay Laboratoire Pharmaceutique, Clarisonic.

About Rogers Media
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. and Rogers Publishing Ltd. Rogers Broadcasting has 55 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television properties include five Citytv stations, five OMNI multicultural television stations, Sportsnet (consisting of four regional channels and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE), and The Shopping Channel, a televised and internet shopping service. Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer magazines, such as Maclean's, Chatelaine, Flare, L'actualité, and Canadian Business, and is the publisher of a number of leading industry, medical and financial publications. All media properties are integrated with their own popular websites. Rogers Media Inc. owns Rogers Centre stadium, year-round sports and entertainment facility, and the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club.                                                                          

For more information, please contact: 

Stephanie Perron, Publicity Coordinator, Rogers Media, [email protected]

Virginie Hotte-Dupuis, Manager External Relations & Philanthropy, L'Oréal  Canada
[email protected]