There is just no mistaking her bouncy bob cuts, seamless sew-in weaves or trademark “Willa curl.” Through her innovative techniques, a keen eye for brilliant color and impeccable internet marketing, international hair stylist Willa Kennedy has revolutionized the world of hair and beauty. In only three short years, she has become one of the most sought-after stylists to hold a pair of sheers. Garnering upwards of 300,000 Facebook followers, tens of thousands of views on her YouTube channel MsWillaWorld and a multi-city styling tour, this 27-year-old entrepreneurial genius built her reputation by creating the hottest hair styles going and even sharing her techniques with the public. “When I first started, I knew I wanted to be an educator. In order to be an educator, you have to guide people,” she explains. “I give people steps and hints that other hair dressers wouldn’t reveal. People said that I was crazy for showing my techniques but it gave me a fan base of thousands who support me.” That fan base of support stretches across the country and abroad. In two years, Willa’s popularity grew from a few admirers of her YouTube postings to being booked for classes in cities from coast to coast, as well as in the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. “I started touring when a lot of people didn’t,” she explains. “I had a good following of about 50,000 so I decided to take a chance and travel from state to state. Each time I left a state, it got bigger. Now, every class I’ve done over the past year has been sold out.” Born and raised in the Florida port city of Tampa, young Willa realized at an early age that she was a natural artist. She was always fascinated by colors and began to take her drawing talents seriously in sixth grade. Throughout school, Willa took every art class she could. And upon graduating from Tampa’s Jefferson Senior High School, she enrolled in interior decorating classes at International Academy of Design for Interior Decorating. After completion of her coursework two years later, she landed a job as an interior decorator. Unfortunately, the housing market took a nose dive and her well-being was threatened. Added to that, she had become the single mother of three girls. She had to make major changes and make them quickly. “I decided to go to hair school because of my daughters. I had to figure out what direction was best for me to tend to them,” Willa admits. “It was the only job that would allow me to be flexible. And then, I’ve always been very creative.” Inspired by the cutting-edge creations of celebrity stylist Terrance Davidson, Ms. Kennedy let her imagination run wild with her hair designs. Held back by no barrier, Willa let her own imagination guide her to creating new styles. “Terrance was like my idol. I was inspired by the hairstyles that he did,” admits. “I love his colors. He’s always creative…and then, I got to meet him.” Since meeting her mentee, the two have recently decided to pool each other’s talents are currently planning a tour together. Along with selling out shows all over the globe, Willa recently launched a Lipstick Collection “ The Willa Collection www.thewillacollection.com . “I make styles for younger people, older people, celebrities, working people and I do stuff for non-working people like the strippers. I like being versatile and trying to switch it up,” she says. “I cater to everyday people. And that helped me get a bigger buzz… Now, I’m doing hair and educating other stylists.” @ms_willaworld