At 15 years old, I decided that I wanted to work in the theatre. Driven, artistic, and fueled by a passion that has persisted throughout my life, my only desire was to be creative. Financial gain was never my motivation; I simply wanted to pursue my dreams.

Am I still dreaming? Yes. Am I still learning? Yes. And did the rewards eventually come through hard work, optimism, and professional support? Absolutely.

"How did I do it? Blind faith, self-belief, and a relentless willingness to learn."

The Aladdins Cave

At 14, I took a Saturday job in a hairdressers. It opened my eyes to life beyond school—meeting clients and receiving free training. But my heart was set on the stage. A fellow stylist told me: "If I were you, I’d go to London, go to Greasepaint and study there."

Coming from Yorkshire at 15, the £7,000 tuition plus living costs seemed astronomical. Instead of giving up, I went to the Grand Theatre in Leeds to ask the experts how they made it. I remember being led to the wig room—a scruffy little place that, to me, was an Aladdin’s cave. I asked the wig mistress how to get where she was. Her answer was simple:

"Forget the theatre for now. Go and be a hairdresser and come back to this later."

The Training Grounds

I took her word as gold. I qualified as a hairdresser, finding instant gratification in every blow-dry and cut. Then, life threw a curveball: I was pregnant. With a new dimension to my life, I worked harder than ever, returning to work just three months after my son was born.

I moved to Saks to develop my skills, joining an artistic team that travelled the world. I loved the fashion shows and competitions, and for a while, I’d forgotten about the theatre. But when a makeup artist failed to show up for a shoot I’d organised, I decided it was time to train and do it myself.

Finding the Magic Again

I found a two-year course in York taught by specialists from Yorkshire Television. Wigs, hair, prosthetics, makeup—it was everything I had dreamed of. Now a single parent with a mortgage and a car to pay for, the stakes were high. Was it luck that I was recommended for a three-month job on a children’s programme? Maybe. But I believe you make your own luck through conscientiousness and hard work.

I left my steady job in blind faith, believing I could make it work. I’m still here to tell the tale, living my dream and staying creative every day.