ackensie Murphy has established herself as one of the world’s top dog groomers. Her illustrious list of awards and accomplishments makes her passion for the world of dogs quite evident. She has consistently ranked among the top ten competitors on every GroomTeam USA since 2012 and has earned a position on the last three consecutive travel teams, winning bronze, silver and gold medals at the world grooming competition. As the daughter of world-renowned pet stylist Jodi Murphy, Mackensie has worked hard to blaze her own path in the grooming industry with great success, and she isn’t stopping anytime soon!

Jonathan: Let’s start with your roots in the pet grooming industry. Your mother is an international icon in the industry, so you’ve been around pet grooming your entire life. When did you realize that a career in working with dogs was the right path for you?

Mackensie: To be honest with you, growing up in the industry and under my mother’s grooming table, literally, I didn’t want to be a dog groomer in the beginning. In all actuality, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I did know one thing, that I really enjoyed art. So, I got into an art school based on my portfolio, but the second they made me open an art history textbook, I was out of there! I began to realize that maybe I should give grooming a second thought; after all, I knew it and I liked it. I was surprised at how quickly I fell in love with dog grooming when I was the one actually doing it. Sculpting dogs crossed over into my love of art really easily; my mediums just changed. And it didn’t hurt that I happened to be really good at it. I always say that grooming kind of chose me.

Jonathan: I think it was the right choice because you’ve proven yourself as an international champion with your incredible competition career spanning 12 years. What has been the driving force that keeps you in the ring, win after win?

Mackensie: It’s the wins! I think a long, successful career in the grooming competition world is based on momentum. After every show, through every level, through all the years and all of the big wins, every time I turn around, I’m surprising myself. I never thought that I would make it to open level. I never thought that I would be able to groom a Cocker Spaniel like my mother. I never thought that I would make it to the travel team. And I definitely never thought that I would be winning gold medals, jackpot competitions and “Groomer of the Year” awards, but I have. And it’s become a personal push for me to see what I can do next. And then to pair with that are the friendships that I’ve made with professionals around the world that share the same drive and passion that I do. Standing next to my friends and grooming at a level that none of us ever thought was possible is probably one of my favorite things.

Jonathan: One of those incredible wins was in Belgium at the World Grooming Competition where you, along with Team USA, won a gold medal and you, individually, ranked number one in Sporting overall! Tell me about that incredible experience and what it felt like.

Mackensie: Belgium in 2017 was one of the most amazing competitions of my entire career! I get choked up just thinking about it. First of all, I can’t say enough about my team. Lindsey, Michele and Victor are just what dreams are made of! We all work together so well, we’re so in tune with one another, and that entire competition was just flawless.

Groomania is a beautiful show. The entire room is filled with the most talented groomers from all over the world. The lights are bright and there are just so many tables covered in so many different flags. I brought a stunning parti cocker with me from home, Tubbs, and I’ll never forget what it felt like stacking her after the contest was over and feeling every eye in the room on us. It was an ‘OMG, I actually did it!’ moment.

Jonathan: That’s a goosebumps kind of moment for sure! Recently, you’ve shifted your focus to being an educator and passing on your extensive and diverse knowledge to your students. Why is education such an important passion of yours?

Mackensie: Mentoring groomers and focusing on education is one of my favorite things that my contest career has given me, and it’s a passion of mine because of the way that I was brought up in this industry. I was very fortunate when I was learning how to groom. I didn’t have to put myself through grooming school or try to find someone to learn from. I truly had a grooming education given to me on a silver platter with my mother being Jodi Murphy, and all the people that she knew. I know how lucky I am for that and I’m very grateful. So, now at this point in my career, my goal is to give that back.

I love teaching in any way shape and form. Right now, I’m mentoring competitors and teaching pet groomers and pet owners all over the world how to groom whatever dog it is that they’re trying to groom. I just feel like everyone should be able to access that kind of knowledge and have that kind of encouraging support that I did. And I want to make sure that I’m the one that gives it to them.

Jonathan: Speaking of your mother, the pet grooming industry is a family affair for the Murphys. Your mother is a pet groomer, you’re a pet groomer and your brother is a trained professional sharpener catering to the pet grooming industry. What about your son, Oliver? Will we see him following in the pet industry footsteps anywhere?

Mackensie: I’m not sure if Oliver is going to follow in our footsteps and jump into the industry or not. He’s 11 now and already he’s extremely well-traveled and has an array of animal experience under his belt. Just like me, he has grown up in a grooming salon his entire life and he absolutely loves dogs.

I’m a single mother in this industry and I’ve been taking him to shows with me for his entire life. Oliver has had a lot of industry ‘aunts and uncles’ that play an impactful role in his life. Those aunts and uncles just happen to be some of the most talented groomers from all over the world, so it’s safe to say that he’s got some great mentors if he ever does decide to jump in.

Jonathan: He certainly does! OK, so you’re an accomplished competitor, a mentor and an educator. What’s next for Mackensie Murphy?

Mackensie: Well, I can tell you that my contest career is not quite finished yet. I plan on winning one more gold medal with Michele and Lindsey. This will be our third travel team together and the three of us girls have made a pact to go out with a bang!

I have set a few more contest goals for myself, but after that, I look forward to spending a lot of years judging. I’m excited to sit on the other side of the judges’ table now with the friends that I’ve been competing next to all these years. I’d also eventually like to sit on the GroomTeam USA board of directors one day. I have a lot of respect for them and everything they do for us as competitors. I would love the opportunity to help that legacy live on. It’s also a dream of mine to take a USA travel team to the World Tournament and experience what that feels like from the other side as their mentor. So basically there’s not an end in sight!

Jonathan: That’s all very exciting, and we look forward to what else you have in store.