Donegal woman crowned Best Nail Technician in Ulster

Vanessa has had her own business, called Polish Perfect, for the past six years and is ‘delighted’ to have won the award. She was also nominated for Best Customer Experience.

Vanessa said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won! I am just over the moon. It’s a massive award and I never thought I was going to win it. Donegal is a bit of a forgotten county in general and there was only three of us representing Donegal in these awards so it’s absolutely unbelievable to be able to represent my county. I’m only in business about six years or so, so I feel like it’s amazing that I’m such a small person in such a massive industry.

“I went to the awards in 2020 and came Highly Commended for Best Costumer Experience, so I was thinking that if I was going to win any of them, it would be that one. Never in a million years did I think I was going to win the Nail Technician of the Year! The talent alone in my category was amazing in the country of Ireland. It was so surreal to be standing up with the best in the business last night. I couldn’t believe it! I’m still so overwhelmed that it was so big.”

Vanessa spoke with the ‘Journal’ in 2019 about staying positive whilst living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), sometimes known as ‘Brittle Bone Disease’. This means Vanessa’s bones break easily and she has suffered from over 60 broken bones over the past 25 years. Vanessa underwent painful surgeries and blood transfusions over the years and was on many different medications but now she has a healthy bone density everywhere but her femurs.

Vanessa completed her HND in North West Regional College (NWRC) and she says she loved her time there. She was initially to study Human Resource Management but a broken bone led to her deferring a year and she then decided to follow her dreams and her love of beauty. She says the ‘Excellent’ teaching staff were ‘amazing’ to her in NWRC, and they also encouraged her to go into teaching herself as she has such a huge love of what she does. Vanessa now works part time as a Nail Technology Lecturer in the College and she wants to thank the staff there for everything they have done over the years. She says they have given continuous encouragement and support to her over the years.

Vanessa has a very positive outlook on life and she doesn’t let anything hold her back. She can’t wait to get back into her salon to share the good news about her award with her customers.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my clients, my family and my friends. Without their constant support, I wouldn’t be up getting awards so a massive thanks to them. It’s absolutely amazing. I’m thrilled to be coming back to my clients with such a big award and can’t wait to hang it in my salon!”

Vanessa is not taking on any more clients at the minute but her work can be viewed on her Facebook page - Polish Perfect by Vanessa.