INDUSTRY PANEL
Introducing the 2026 Australian Style Institute Awards
The Australian Style Institute Style Awards honour the students and graduates who are building their place in the world of styling with intention, creativity and purpose.
Across personal and editorial styling, creative direction, content, business, and emerging talent, the awards celebrate work that demonstrates creative skill, professional growth, commercial awareness and a thoughtful understanding of style as more than what we wear.
Today’s stylists are not defined by one narrow role. They are image-makers, educators, content creators, business owners, creative collaborators and trusted voices in the way people and brands communicate through style.
The 2026 Australian Style Institute Awards recognise the individuals contributing to that evolution, celebrating not only the final outcome, but the thinking, intention, professionalism and standard behind the work.
The Theme of 2026
This year’s theme is Moments That Matter.
In styling, success is not always defined by one major milestone. It can be found in the first client, the first photoshoot, the first time you put your work into the world, the moment you said yes before you felt ready, the piece of content that started a conversation, or the opportunity that helped you see what was possible.
These moments matter because they reveal more than talent. They reveal taste, judgement, initiative, resilience and a deeper understanding of the role stylists now play across personal style, image-making, content, business and brand communication.
Nominations
Nominations are now closed. Thank you to our students and graduates who have taken the time to submit a nomination, they are currently being reviewed.
Recognition
- Finalists announced: Friday 24th July via Instagram: @australianstyleinstitute
- Recipients announced: Thursday 13th August 6pm AEST (Online)
Being recognised by Australian Style Institute can support your professional positioning, strengthen your brand, elevate your portfolio and create opportunities for PR, media features, social content, client trust and future industry conversations.
An award does not define your potential, but it can help amplify it.
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2026 Categories & Recipients
Recognising outstanding work across personal styling, wardrobe development, personal shopping, client consultations and style transformation.
This category celebrates a thoughtful, human-centred approach to personal style, with work that goes beyond clothing selection to consider the client’s lifestyle, identity, confidence, body, goals and personal expression. The stylist should demonstrate strong styling principles across their client work, including trend interpretation, intentional use of colour, body shape and proportions.
2026 Recipient: Anna Svedberg
Recognising outstanding fashion styling created for editorial, image-making and visual storytelling.
This category celebrates a strong fashion narrative through clothing, mood, concept, composition and collaboration. The stylist should demonstrate a clear creative point of view, with work that feels intentional, visually resolved and connected to a compelling visual outcome.
2026 Recipient: Billy Chambers
Recognising outstanding creative leadership across a fashion styling project, campaign, editorial, content series, brand shoot or visual concept.
This category celebrates the ability to lead the overall creative vision, not just the styling component. The nominee should demonstrate how they shaped an idea from concept through to execution, bringing together mood, storytelling, styling, casting, location, art direction, visual references, team collaboration and final outcome.
2026 Recipient: Synthia Wilson
Recognising outstanding style-led content across social media, video, written platforms, education, commentary, digital storytelling or personal brand channels.
This category celebrates creators who use content to inform, inspire, educate, entertain or shift the conversation around style. The creator should demonstrate clear thinking, strong creative direction, consistency, audience understanding and a distinct point of view.
2026 Recipient: Lucy Bailey
Recognising outstanding progress, professionalism, commercial thinking and business development within the styling industry.
This category celebrates stylists who are building a sustainable, credible and commercially viable styling business. The entrant should demonstrate growth, initiative, client experience, brand development, service innovation, visibility and the ability to turn styling skill into professional opportunity.
2026 Recipient: Tina Abeysekara
Recognising an emerging stylist who has shown exceptional progress, initiative, growth and potential from January 2025 to June 2026.
This category celebrates stylists who may be early in their career, but are already demonstrating the mindset, skill, professionalism and commitment required to build a future in the styling industry.
2026 Recipient: Jaydn Scott
The highest overall honour presented at the Australian Style Institute Awards.
This category celebrates an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional standard across styling, professionalism, growth, contribution and embodiment of the Australian Style Institute values. It recognises more than a single project or achievement, honouring the stylist who represents the standard, spirit and future of Australian Style Institute.
2026 Recipient: Melissa Murgana
PAST CATEGORIES & RECIPIENTS
This award encompasses all of the above categories, recognising the student or graduate that has achieved outstanding success in 2024. Success is defined by someone who is actively going after what they want and getting the ultimate results doing it. They are determined, resilient and future-thinking!
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Simone Molluso
2023: Heather Murray
2022: Becky Fulton
2021: Michelle Beltrame
2020: Brooke Falvey
This award recognises the person that has collaborated on photoshoots and flourished in a creative environment. The winner will have worked on at least three photoshoots in 2023, as either a head stylist or in an assisting role.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Emma Petterwood
2023: Greta Magistrale
2022: Sophie Torrini
2021: Aaron Mitchell
2020: Antonio Chiocca
This award recognises the person who lives by the ASI mantra ‘say yes and figure out how’. They are making early traction in their studies or business, and show promise that the work they are putting in today will bring success for the future.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Courtney Blood
2023: Sonya Choi La Rosa
2022: Heather Murray
2021: Becky Fulton
2020: Michelle Beltrame, Emelia Morris
This award recognises the ASI graduate who has experienced success beyond the classroom. They are passionately establishing their styling business whether it be commercially, creatively or through innovation.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Tamarra McNaught
2023: Justina Low
2022: Fae Jagdon
2021: Melissa Murgana
2020: Jessica Ryan
This award recognises creators who unite creativity and commerce. They excel at communicating fashion and lifestyle to a digital audience, sharing their own brand of style.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Emelia Morris
2023: Rachael Gough
This award recognises the most conscientious student. They are dedicated to their studies, active within the ASI community and eager to grow.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
2024: Gabrielle Sampson
2023: Maddy Forster
2022: Lisa Naumann
2021: Bec Lenthall
2020: Hope Shadbol
