‘In awe, so humbled’: Gainesville hairstylist wins an Emmy for work on Disney film

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Antionette Black got her start in Gainesville, Florida, and is now an Emmy award-winning hairstylist.

“{I was} completely shocked, in awe, so humbled,” Black stated in shock. “God put the right people in my path to get me where I am. A friend saw what I did and invited me to come work in Atlanta, and I took off, and every person I met along the way got them there, and that’s why I’m here.”

Still reeling from her big win, Black says she’s been an Emmy nominee before for her work on the show ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ but taking home the trophy is a whole different feeling.

“It just blew me away, and I knew it was nothing but God. I won the Emmy for Descendants: Rise of Red, streaming now on Disney+. Descendants is a major franchise, but before even getting on Descendants, I started right here in Gainesville doing so many clients that let me practice, and that’s how I got to film and TV.”

Black specializes in natural hair, but she does it all.

With more than 30 years of experience, she now trains other hairstylists in the industry through the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, also known as IATSE, which is a union for those who work behind the scenes.

Black recently worked on the upcoming ‘Scary Movie 6′, and that’s not the only film on her long list of accolades.

“I worked on ‘Atlanta’ seasons 3 and 4. I just finished season 2 of ‘Chad Powers.’ I also did ‘Haunted Mansion’, ‘The Valet’, ‘Oh What Fun’ with Michelle Pfeiffer, which is a Christmas movie that just came out last Christmas.”

Black also has a haircare line, is currently working on another show, and owns A Nu Twist salon in Gainesville.

She plans to host an Emmy party on Tuesday night at the Hippodrome Theater to celebrate her big win with friends and family.

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