NAIL art students have clawed their way into the national finals of a major college skills competition.
Darlington College beauty students Amy Mullen, and Sandra Motiejunaite, each presented a perfectly polished performance at the Beauty and Holistic WorldSkills challenge to take first and second place in their heat.
The competition, which takes place every year, is designed by leading industry experts and training providers, to help raise skill levels amongst students and trainees from across the UK.
Beauty therapy tutor at Darlington College Rachel Hanson said: “We started our nail art course in September and as soon as I saw Amy and Sandra’s work I knew that they had potential.
“We do a complete nail training programme in the college including acrylic nails, gel nails, hand painting and airbrushing and it is quite a hard skill to master.
“To have both our therapists finish first and second, against some of the best students in the country, shows that we are doing something right here in Darlington.”
Both Amy and Sandra were given just two and a half hours to complete a full set of three inch nails in their heat, held at South Burton and Derbyshire College, with designs based on the theme Thriller.
Amy, 24, of Darlington, who chose her designs from the Natalie Portman film Black Swan, said: “I liked the dark side of the film and its contrasting innocence so I used that imagery in my designs.
“I painted the central character on the middle two nails and then made one hand sinister and the other more pure.
“This was my first competition and it was really nerve wracking. I was so shocked when they read my name out as the winner that I just froze.”
Lithuanian born Sandra, 33, who now lives in Darlington, added: “Nail art is my favourite part of the course and I was very happy to be asked to represent the college at the WorldSkills competition.
“I chose to make my designs from Michael Jackson’s Thriller and painted a Frankenstein monster as my main image with ghouls and ghosts accessorised with glitter and diamantes.
“I was very pleased to get second place and even more pleased when Amy was given first prize.”
The two students will now go on to represent Darlington College in the national finals in London in November.
The college will also be represented by student Hannah Boniface who was awarded first place in the intermediate beauty therapy heat.
Hannah also impressed the judges enough to secure a place to train with the British team for the International WorldSkills championships in Brazil in 2014.
For more information on Darlington College courses contact (01325) 503030 or log on to www.darlington.ac.uk.
