Congratulations on your first prize in the contest. Very well deserved.
I think the control of the light and the staging is excellent, but there is one thing that I think is excessive: you have made an excessive use of softening filters. The look of the model's skin is unnatural, it doesn't correspond to any real skin.
I beg your pardon if I'm too critical, but I see that a great job is spoiled by trying to make the model look unreal.
Thanks for sharing
RE: Monomad challenge entry #164: Debbie's fiery birthday portraits in monochrome.