SHREVEPORT, La. — Less than three years after coming together as a collective of independent beauty professionals, Shreveport-based Loqual Elites is preparing to work one of the world's most recognizable fashion events.
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Seven members of the team will travel to Paris in October to provide hair and makeup during the runway show of Shreveport native designer Tiffany S. Walker, known professionally as Pink Lucy, at Paris Fashion Week 2026.
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For founder and CEO Tracie Allen, the invitation is proof that opportunities can grow from northwest Louisiana.
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"I've always had a sense that I wanted to do something greater." Allen said.
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Allen has worked as a licensed hairstylist for 26 years. In 2024, she founded Loqual Elites with the goal of bringing together beauty and wellness professionals from across the area.
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Today, the collective includes hairstylists, makeup artists, estheticians, massage therapists and other self-care specialists who collaborate on projects while continuing to operate their own businesses.
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"We're all different entrepreneurs," Allen said. "We all have our own salons, so it's not like we're working under one roof, but we're working together for a common goal."
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That goal has now taken the team overseas.
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Team lead Cha'Ree Brown said the experience will allow members to stretch their creativity while representing their hometown.
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"That's the great thing about doing what we do," Brown said. "We're able to give practical styles... but because we've had opportunities to work in film, television and runway shows such as Paris, it allows our creative abilities to just flow."
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Brown said the invitation is also a reminder that faith has been at the center of the team's journey.
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"It is really surreal," she said. "You can believe and you can pray, and then when it happens, it's like, 'God, you really did this.'"
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Allen hopes the trip will inspire others in the Shreveport-Bossier community.Â
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"Being from Shreveport, Louisiana, we really are some very talented people," Allen said. "A lot of times our talents go unnoticed. This is just an indication that you can do it too."
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As they prepare for Paris, the seven-member team is raising money to help cover travel expenses. Loqual Elites is accepting community donations ahead of the October trip, here.
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