Make Up student invited to national competition

31st May 2022

A Make Up student from Solihull College & University Centre has been invited to WorldSkills UK’s national Creative Media Make Up competition.

Ariane Sargent, 17 from Rugby, was encouraged by Make Up lecturers Katie Tombs and Katie Miller to apply to the competition after impressing them with her skill in body art and dedication to her work.

After applying, WorldSkills UK sent Ariane a brief stipulating the theme which they wanted her to create which was “IT’S ALL AN ILLUSION”. Ariane decided to create the illusion of being able to see inside the body.

Student with two mannequins and Aspire background

The WorldSkills UK Creative Media Make Up competition will take place on 20th June

Ariane explains: “It was quite hard finding a model for the first round as not everyone is comfortable wearing a bald cap. After submitting my work, I was contacted within a week to say I had qualified for the UK National Qualifiers!”

The competition has three stages: Passive Heats, UK National Qualifiers, and UK National Final. Ariane is one of 8 students to be invited to the UK National Qualifiers which will be a live timed event and will analyse presentation, health & safety, application technique, dramatic impact, and overall effect.

Summarising her emotions, Ariane says: “It’s very stressful but equally exciting and it’s a good experience. I feel like my skills have massively developed and my confidence has grown as a result of both the course I’m studying and through this competition process. My mind is buzzing with lots of ideas and right now zoning in on just one is the challenge.”

Ariane has always been interested in hair & make up and initially went to a local college to study Beauty Therapy. Unfortunately, Ariane didn’t enjoy her time there and started looking for her ideal course. She shares: “This College is the only one outside of London that offers the specific course I want to do as it offers the qualification that my dream jobs require. So, I decided to study here despite the long commute. It’s been everything that I wanted.”

Ariane’s lecturers are helping her prepare for the competition and will accompany her on the day

Focusing on placing a bald cap on her model, Ariane continues to share how she’s developed on the course: “One of the areas in which I’ve developed massively is hair. I wasn’t as confident with it before I started the course, but I’ve learnt to like it and I feel like I’ve got quite good. It requires a lot of patience. As a Make Up Artist, you need to excel in both the makeup and the hair.”

Hoping to work on film sets in the future as a Make Up Artist, Ariane shares what’s inspired her to move towards this direction: “On a recent College trip, we took part in a Make Up workshop at Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter. They shared that they’re looking for apprentices and it just inspired me and helped me to understand which direction I want to go in.”

Lecturer Katie Tombs comments: “We’re extremely proud of her and she’s a true inspiration to both us and the students.”

We wish Ariane the best of luck in the competition!

Find out more about the College’s Beauty Therapy & Make Up courses: Beauty Therapy & Make-Up courses