Suzy Higgins – Stylist and Businesswoman
Suzy Higgins is a creative hair stylist with her own salon and a passion for sharing her experience in the industry. Alongside her creative and professional life, she’s also on a personal discovery of her origins as Māori.
Suzy has a pakeha mother and a Māori father and said, “Hamilton is my hometown, where I was born and raised.” Suzy said, “like many Māori, I need to express myself and to use my hands”.
Although she owns her own salon, she would love to open more. But what really makes her happy and motivates her is mentoring others. Suzy said she was a “high school dropout” but that owning a business has allowed her to transition from being an artist to taking on a leadership role so that she can guide others.
Suzy opened up about intersectionality saying “I'm a brown, Māori woman. I'm not meant to be in this seat”. Suzy said she’s fought and “worked really hard” to overcome the stereotypes of Māori women, which required perseverance, self-discovery, and the ability to assert herself in professional environments.
Despite these positives, she feels there have been missed opportunities and says she’s just recently understood the intergenerational trauma caused by colonisation, which has designed and influenced her whanau.
As a creative, with an impressive 23-year journey in the industry, she has taken on another adventure, to reconnect with her Māori roots which is helping the whanau heal.
Suzy’s absolute goal is to create a brand that goes beyond superficial beauty and holds, deep meaning and purpose. She is driven to provide a space where beauty encompasses diversity and is inclusive of Māori and other cultures in Aoteoroa.
Quotes
“Hamilton is my hometown, where I was born and raised.”
“I need to express myself and to use my hands”
“Owning a business has allowed me to transition from being an artist to taking on a leadership role to guide others”
Written by Rawiri (Ra) Keelan. Rawiri is a graduate of the Wintec- Te Te Pūkenga Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts. He is now studying the Graduate Diploma in Communication with a focus on media and creative writing, digital marketing, and communication.