A beauty student from Abercarn has won a gold medal in the final of a national skills challenge.
Rachel Watson, 23, competed against seven other students from across Wales in a series of challenges within a three-hour time period.
The competitors were tasked with performing a mini cleansing facial, applying day make-up and giving a model a manicure during the Skills Competition Wales challenge.
The Welsh Government-backed competition is a series of events held in colleges across the country which are designed to celebrate vocational skills and create highly-skilled workers.
Rachel, who is studying a Level 2 NVQ in beauty therapy at Coleg Gwent, said she could not believe it when judges announced her as the winner.
She said: “Being part of a competition was really nerve wracking and I was trying my hardest to make sure I kept within the time periods, as well as doing a thorough job.
“My twin sister Rebecca was also taking part in the same competition, so there was a bit of sibling rivalry to add into the mix.
“For weeks I’ve been using my friends and family as models. It’s worked out well because I’ve been getting in some extra practice while they’ve had free manicures.
“Eventually I’d like to open up a salon with my sister who ended up coming second in the competition.”