Australias Biggest Makeup Competition
Battle of the Brushes is the very first makeup artist competition, designed to celebrate creativity, talent, and artistry in the beauty industry. The event will showcase both upcoming and established artists across exciting categories such as Bridal, Fashion, Special Effects, and Tweens.
Each heat will take place live on stage, with models hitting the runway to display the artists’ work in front of an audience of family, friends, and beauty lovers. A panel of industry experts will judge the competition, offering valuable recognition and feedback to competitors.
The event is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of community, innovation, and artistry. With VIP experiences, a media wall, brand activations, and strong social media coverage, Battle of the Brushes offers sponsors and guests an unforgettable day of glamour and inspiration.
Our vision is to grow Battle of the Brushes from a Gippsland-first event into a nationally recognised competition, showcasing local talent on a bigger stage year after year.
The Details
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Sunday 8th March 2026
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Location - Moe Racing Club
Category One
Tween Make Up
A category designed especially for our up-and-coming makeup artists aged 10–16years. This is your chance to experiment, express yourself, and showcase your creativity as the next generation of talent. Design must be age appropriate, fun and must have a pop of colour
Age Guidelines
Open to participants aged 10–16 years.
Time Allocation
You will have 3 hours to complete your look.
Category Two
Bridal Look
Modern 1920s Inspired This category celebrates the elegance of bridal artistry with a modern twist on the glamour of the 1920s. Competitors are challenged to merge a 1920’s vibe The look should be timeless yet innovative, bringing the sophistication of the Jazz Age into today’s bridal world.
Time Allocation
4 hours
Category Three
Fashion Makeup
This category celebrates creativity, innovation, and trend-forward artistry. Competitors are challenged to create a high-fashion look suitable for runway, editorial, or photoshoots, showcasing bold techniques, artistic flair, and attention to detail. Think statement eyes, unique colour palettes, and dramatic finishes that capture the essence of contemporary fashion.
Time Allocation
5 hours
Category Four
Special Effects
This category is all about pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill. Competitors are welcome to use prosthetics, texture, blood effects, fantasy elements, or other transformative techniques to tell a story or bring a character from out of this world to life. Imagination, precision, and skill are key - but the theme must be out of this world
Time Allocation
7 Hours
Meet The Judges
RONIA
We’re so excited to welcome Ronia the founder of @roniamakeuphouse to our judging panel!
Ronia is a professional makeup artist and educator renowned for her precision, artistry, and passion for empowering other creatives. With years of industry experience, she’s built an incredible reputation with creating her signature brush collection loved by artists worldwide
As part of our expert judging panel, Ronia will be looking for attention to detail, technique, and individuality — celebrating the unique artistry each competitor brings to the stage.
We can’t wait to have her share her expertise and creative eye at this year’s Battle of the Brushes!
Danielle Ruth
We are thrilled to announce Danielle Ruth as one of our incredible judges for Battle of the Brushes!
Danielle is the creative force behind Wowfx, one of Australia’s leading special effects and makeup studios. With over two decades of experience spanning film, television, transgender makeup, and fine art, Danielle has truly transformed the landscape of makeup artistry.
Her work is a beautiful blend of technical precision and emotional storytelling — from creating hyper-realistic prosthetics and personal breast casts for women facing mastectomy, to celebrating diversity through multi-gender makeup. Recognized by Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), Danielle’s artistry goes beyond transformation — it empowers.
Having worked on major projects across Australia, the USA, UK, and India, and as a respected trainer and mentor for over 15 years, Danielle continues to inspire and elevate artists everywhere.
We can’t wait to have her join our judging panel and bring her wealth of knowledge and creative vision to Battle of the Brushes! 💄🎨
SARAH EMILIA
Announcing the one and only Sarah Emilia as one of our guest judges
Sarah Emilia is one of Australia’s most influential digital creators, educators, and entrepreneurs, a powerhouse in the beauty and social media space. Her journey began in 2012 as a mobile hairdresser posting her work on Facebook before evolving into a leading digital educator with a loyal online community.
By 2023, Sarah had grown her TikTok following from zero to over one million followers in just six months, earning widespread media coverage, TV appearances, and the title of Australian TikTok Business of the Year. She is a multi Australian Hair Fashion Awards (AHFA) winner, receiving Transformation Stylist of the Year (2022), Digital Influencer of the Year (2024), and multiple industry recognitions for her innovative and authentic approach to content creation.
Through her brand @sarahemiliaofficial, Sarah champions authenticity and empowerment, teaching creators, entrepreneurs, and salon professionals how to show up confidently, create content with purpose, and build brands that connect through storytelling.
She will be looking out for the industry’s next best trendsetters. For the ones who blend creativity and innovation so effortlessly it makes you stop scrolling. I want to see models who own their confidence and artists whose talent makes that shine even brighter.
We can’t wait to have her on the panel 😍
JUDGE 4
Announced soon
