Melbourne’s Mia Saker crowned as HEXIS PWS World PPF champion

Representing Australia in an intense international vehicle wrapping competition put on by HEXIS in France, young female apprentice Mia Saker from Blurred Melbourne, outshone the 35 other finalists – including two fellow Aussies – to take out top spot and €10,000 prize money as the 2026 HEXIS PWS World PPF champion.

Ian Parsonson, HEXIS Australia Managing Director, watching the final unfurl himself at 3am local time, says: “All three of the Australian contestants who won a spot in the finals series following some really close regional wrap battles, did us proud. The fact that Mia snagged first place and another female wrapper from Germany came second overall, is a great indictment that vehicle wrapping is quietly playing an important role in attracting young female talent into our industry. But huge congratulations too to Matt Jordan, from Platinum Wraps in Mackay who finished fourth overall and Bo Grace from KBWraps in Griffith NSW, who also finished in the top half of the field.”

“As a company, we couldn’t be more proud of their achievements, especially because each of them had previously been through here and attended multiple HEXIS training courses locally, so that’s a great endorsement that we’re doing something right and I hope all of our customers hear about this success and consider signing their apprentices up for the training too.”

“Events like this are a great showcase for our industry and lift the profile of the art of vehicle wrapping, also clearly showing that our Australian installers are already performing at the highest level in the world…I hope this spurs on even more Aussie wrap-stars to compete next time round.”

Mia confesses: “I wasn’t nervous at all going into the regional qualifying rounds of the competition in Melbourne, largely because I didn’t really have any self-belief. I felt as though I was competing to make John and others at Blurred Melbourne where I work, happy. But then to find out I was heading to France to represent Australia in the finals was pretty cool.”

“When we started Day One of the Finals in France, I didn’t think I was nervous, but my hands were telling me otherwise: I’ve never seen them shake so much, whilst I was cutting on a GT4 taillight! But surprisingly, I managed to win all four of my rounds, which landed me in the Grande Final.”

“Right through the competition, the energy was incredible and the effort was through the roof – all of the competitors were so warm and welcoming towards each other. But the pressure to win was real and going into Day Two, HEXIS announced that the top 6 would now compete in a Grande & Petite Final.”

Where Day One of the competition had a ring of familiarity about it – cars that the competitors might have worked on before and working with HEXIS BODYFENCE Paint Protection Films – with Day Two came a whole new set of challenges for those still standing. Each competitor was given just two hours to install a half bonnet and front bar, front guard and mirror, and had to use a brand new version of BODYXFAST Satin finish as well as the new Candyfence colour for the mirror. Clément Mateu, CEO of HEXIS, adds: “Fitting PPF is a precision job, where everything comes down to the millimetre and where success is often measured as much by what you cannot see. In creating the PPF World Series, we wanted to give these professionals a stage worthy of their skill. Bringing together thirty-six finalists from twelve countries to Frontignan, where our films are made, is a real source of pride for me and for our company.”

Enjoy a quick video of the competition here

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