A BEAUTICIAN from Milford Haven has won gold for the second year running at the final of a national competition.

Twenty-five-year-old Pembrokeshire College student Sally Sanderson competed against students from colleges across Wales in the Skills Competition Wales final in Intermediate Nail Art.

The finalists had to create a nail art design based on a specific theme which, this year, was Disney.

They were then asked to complete the design in front of the judges within a two and a half hour time frame. The competitors were then marked on their client care, own appearance, health and safety, their technique and their finished design.

Sally, from Milford Haven, who qualified in Nail Services last year and is currently studying Beauty Therapy at Pembrokeshire College, said she was very proud of her achievement.

“I was amazed to have been picked as the winner and am totally overwhelmed by how people react to my work. I worked so incredibly hard towards it that I’m very satisfied to have won gold for the second year running.

“I never expected it, you never know who you’re going to be up against but I’m so pleased to have won because it shows my children that working hard and making an effort is rewarding – they love my new trophy!”

Skills Competition Wales is part of a Welsh Government-backed initiative to boost skills levels across Wales.

Supported by the European Social Fund, the Welsh Government is running a total of 32 Skills Competitions in 2014 in a range of sectors, from carpentry and hairdressing to automotive and patisserie.

Sally will now go forward to represent Pembrokeshire College in the WorldSkills UK Nail Art Competition, with the aim of representing ‘team Wales’ at this year's Skills Show.