17-year-old Lilla Thomas will represent Suffolk at the WorldSkills UK national finals in November.
The WorldSkills UK competition brings together young people to upskill and showcase vocational talents through real-world tasks. The finals – taking place across South Wales – will see 400 students and apprentices competing across 40 disciplines.
Lilla will go head-to-head with competitors across the nation to showcase her skills in Beauty Therapy.
The Newmarket resident has recently started her Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualification at West Suffolk College, having completed her Level 2 course last year.
Lilla earned her place in the finals after progressing through a series of qualifiers. At the regional heats in Leicester, she performed a variety of beauty skills – including waxing, manicures, and eyebrow tinting – before achieving her finalist status.
She said: “Getting to the finals was intense; seeing all the other therapists did make me nervous, but as soon as I started my treatments, all I did was focus. It was a lot to take in, but my lecturers provided continuous support, guidance, and endless encouragement every step of the way.”
On her achievement, Lilla said: “Reaching the WorldSkills UK finals in Beauty Therapy is something I never imagined doing this time last year. I always knew I had a passion for beauty, but I didn’t realise where it could take me. Making it into the top 8 nationally and earning the chance to represent the East of England is nothing like I ever imagined. I’m so excited to compete in November!”
She said: “My time at West Suffolk College has been amazing from day one. Beyond building up new friendships within my class and mastering new treatments, the real highlight for me has been the incredible skills I’ve learnt. My message to others would be don’t ever doubt yourself. If you have a passion for something, go for it.”
In terms of the future, Lilla said: “My immediate goal is to complete my Level 3 qualification, before hopefully moving on to Level 4 to successfully gain all the qualifications I need for a long-term career in the beauty industry.”
