When it comes to shouting about the exciting opportunities in the hair and beauty industry, Redcar and Cleveland College beauty lecturer, Victoria Robinson, is well placed.

Named Make-up Artist of the Year at the English Hair and Beauty Awards earlier this year, and Make-up Artist of the Year at the North East Beauty Industry Awards, two years running, she said: “Everything has really snowballed for me.”

Since then, the invites to show her work have flooded in.

Fresh back from demonstrating at the Scottish Hair and Beauty show in Glasgow and Beauty UK in Coventry before that, Victoria is loving sharing her experiences and skills with students at the college.

She said: “There are so many different arms to the industry, and it really is massive at the moment, particularly post covid.”

With the service industries getting back on their feet, and the demand for some much-needed pampering growing, the Stockton mum-of-two said: “Opportunities are out there, even for the likes of working backstage in film and TV.”

Amazingly, when first training as a beautician herself, she admits make-up wasn’t her first love. Now she can’t imagine doing anything else.

She explained: “I didn’t particularly want to do make up at first, now I know it has changed my life.”

Loving to work with colourful and bridal make-up, she runs her own freelance business, Victoria Louise MUA.  And it looks like her youngest daughter could be following in her footsteps.

In the running for the national title for the last four years, and just pipped at the post with a highly commended in 2021, Victoria said it felt amazing to finally win.

Awards were announced at a glitzy awards ceremony at The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Hull.

With lots more exciting projects already in the pipeline, she said: “It’s great to be able to tell the students what I have been up to. It opens their eyes to the opportunities that are out there and if I have done it, then they can too!”