Jarrow nail technician says award nomination ‘really lifted my spirits’ during Lockdown 3

Chloe Leigh Power says she first applied to be considered for the prize at the beginning of the third national lockdown, imposed at the beginning of the month.

She has since been notified of her selection as a finalist for the UK Hair and Beauty Awards in the ‘Best Gel Nails’ category.

The 22-year-old Jarrow mum and self-employed nail technician works at the busy Flamingo Hair & Beauty salon in Grange Road, Jarrow, which is currently closed due to the latest restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I absolutely love doing nails, it’s doesn't even feel like a job to me it’s more of a hobby”, Ms Power told The Gazette.

"Any free time I get I’m always practising new designs, learning new techniques, perfecting my skills.

"You never stop learning as a nail technician and that’s what I love about it!”

The finals are scheduled to be held in March and are due to take place virtually, unless current Covid restrictions unexpectedly lift before then.

On her initial reaction to the news she had been shortlisted, Ms Power said: “I am honestly so honoured to have been picked over thousands of other applicants as starting self-employed during the pandemic has been really difficult.

"I applied in the competition during our third lockdown, I mentioned it to my fiancé Jon and he encouraged me to enter. I’ve always been so self critical of my work but I think every nail tech will agree they are the same, I never thought in a million years I’d be picked as finalist!

“When I got the email to tell me I had been selected as a finalist it really lifted my spirits. I didn’t have the best start to 2021, so to see that email it made my day. I rang around my family to tell them and they were all made up for me.

"I didn’t bother telling anyone I’d entered as I didn’t even think I’d make it to be a finalist.”

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