STUDENT and avid TikTok creator Layla Thorpe, won Warrington & Vale Royal College’s first ever social media competition and was crowned their ‘Glow Up’ champion 2022.
In the entrepreneurial spirit of the college and inspired by her recent achievement, Layla has now set up her own beauty business, and has big plans to continue creating her award-winning looks alongside finishing her qualification.
In October 2022, the college launched a brand-new hair and make-up competition, inspiring entrants from all over Cheshire to create jaw-dropping festive looks in the bid to win the top prize of a £100 Beauty Bay voucher. Judged by popular TikTok influencer and make-up artist, Holly Barnes, Layla was crowned based on her technical ability, creativity and social media impact.
Although Layla’s preferred medium is body art, she challenged herself for the competition, including advanced techniques of SFX, airbrushing and constructing intricate head pieces to wow the industry judge and the TikTok audience. The effort paid off, landing her the top prize and her highest number of likes and views on TikTok to date. Spurred on by this victory, Layla has set her mind to running her own freelance make-up artistry business, specialising in creating stunning night-out make-up looks and bold festival face and body art.
Through the college, Layla has been able to participate in a lucrative industry placement at Pure Hair & Beauty in Earlestown. Whilst at the salon, she impressed her colleagues and has been offered a chair to run her make-up business from, giving her an impressive head-start in the £36billion health & beauty industry.
Reflecting on the competition and where it has led her so far, Layla said: “The Glow Up competition was such a great experience and it really inspired me to do my best work. I was so grateful for the prize as I have been able to invest in professional kit for my new business. I’ve bought MAC foundations, Benefit powders and all sorts of colourful palettes!”
If Layla’s incredible Glow Up creations are anything to go by, her business is sure to be booming in no time. The college wishes her every success in her new endeavour and looks forward to seeing more of her fabulous make-up creations!
To find out more about the college’s hair & beauty courses, future competitions and upcoming events, visit wvr.ac.uk
