I am delighted to announce that I’ll be handing the reigns of Beauty Editor over to Holly Curtis, Onya Magazine’s former Beauty Intern.

Since starting as Onya Magazine’s Beauty Editor in 2009, my direction for the beauty department has been to unearth and showcase the best beauty products this country has to offer – because, yes, Australian made and owned can be luxe, stylish and fabulous. Along the way I’ve remained committed to delivering content that is fun, engaging and educational, but also, and most importantly, honest.

Amongst many other beauty adventures Onya has taken me on (including writing a regular column ‘Confessions of a Beauty Queen’), I’ve glammed myself up in my boudoir in old Hollywood style for the Fascinators and Fillies spring racing beauty feature; luxuriated in day spas; been swept off my feet by 1920s vintage glamour at a Melbourne perfumery, put my hand up to experience the ancient art of eye brow threading; had my hair cut, coloured and styled to perfection; creatively directed photo shoots and prepared Sandi Sieger, the delightful Editor of this magazine for her wedding earlier in 2010.

I know you’re not meant to have favourites, but I can’t help get a little nostalgic revisiting these articles below from a bygone era:

Fascinators & Fillies: Spring Racing Carnival Feature

Moulin Rouge meets Mills and Boon

Fabulous Fleurage

Here Comes the Bride: Are You Ready For Your Close Up?

My role as Beauty Editor for Onya Magazine has meant I’ve crossed paths with some über-talented and ever so lovely people, who’ve helped shaped my beautiful experience in Melbourne (I used to be a Perth-ite you see), developed my writing career in the most splendid fashion and put a real sparkle into my life.

This of course includes my Editor, Sandi Sieger, for whom it’s a pleasure and a privilege to work with, many other talented Onya Writers, some très lovely public relations professionals, and of course, my two lovely Beauty Department recruits, Holly Curtis and Beth Keamy.

I leave my role as Beauty Editor of Onya Magazine on a high, having been nominated in November as one of three finalists for the Beauty Directory Star Awards, in the best beauty visual.

The standout in my category as the only entry published online, I was pitted against Editors from two of the major glossy magazines, from which Stephanie Darling of Madison emerged the winner. It was a real win for not only Onya Magazine, and myself, but also for online media making its mark as a major player in the industry.

Host Paula Joye (former Editor of Madison) presented the awards at an elegant sit down breakfast in Sydney. The winners in the beauty journalism categories were selected on tone, delivery, quality, depth of information and consistency, with the number of entries soaring over last year.

The judging panel for the Star Journalism awards comprised of:

• Gary Davey, Cosmetics Buyer, David Jones

• Frank Kavanagh, Cosmetics Buyer, Myer

• Rosi Fernandez, Managing Director, La Prairie Group Australia

• Paula Joye, Editor, Life.Styled

You can re-visit my nominated entry The Seven Sins of Skincare here (I won’t hold it against it you if you haven’t read it before – promise).

“So where are you going, what are you doing, why are you leaving?”

“Okay, I’ll take a question from the journalist in the third row there with the pink top.”

Q: Why are you leaving the Beauty Department? I mean, seriously, why would you give up all the perks of being a Beauty Editor?

A: Yes, it was a long, hard and well thought out decision. I feel that I’ve established the Beauty Department and built it up to what it is now, and now I’m looking for a new challenge.

I also have two fabulous writers within the department who I would love to see progress in their careers, so me stepping up and out, provides them the opportunity to develop and inject their talent, writing nous and personalities into the department.

Additionally, I will continue to review beauty treatments around the country as part of my travel writing with Onya, and I also have a regular beauty feature on my blog ‘Beauty News From My Boudoir’ on The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide, so do not fear, I will still be knee deep in beauty product on a daily basis.

“Yes, the woman in the back row with the red lipstick and perfectly waxed eyebrows”

Q: What are you going to do next?

A: I’ve just accepted the position of Travel Editor with Onya Magazine. This means I’ll be spending 2011 gallivanting around this fair country of ours reviewing hotels, restaurants, day spas, beauticians and the likes.

“Yes, yes, I’ll try and get to you all. Okay, woman in the first row.”

Q: So, you’re not going to be leaving Onya Magazine then?

A: Good heavens above no! Have you met my Editor, Sandi Sieger yet? There’s one god damn beautiful, intelligent and fabulous woman, and it’s such a joy to work with her, so I won’t be leaving the magazine any time soon.

“Oooooh hello, yes, man in the fifth row”

Q: I heard that Onya Magazine is going to print. Is this true?

A: Why, yes *flutters eyelashes* Onya Magazine is going to print in 2011, and you can expect a fabulous luxury travel feature, but I’m afraid I can’t divulge which locations I’ll be reporting on. You’re going to have to buy the first issue to find that out.

“Okay, one final question. Ummm, right then, you there in the purple Allannah Hill cardigan.”

Q: What’s happening to Confessions of a Beauty Queen and will you have a new travel column?

A: Confessions of a Beauty Queen has officially ended, but yes, I will have a new travel column that will appear both in print and online. So watch this space for more information.

Holly, I wish you the very best in your new role as Beauty Editor with Onya Magazine. Be fabulous darling, fabulous!