A beauty therapist is aiming to inspire women and girls in Oxfordshire by sharing her story.
Andrea Jones, who runs the Andrea Danielle beauty therapy school, became a single mother at the age of 16.
Despite this, she pursued her dream of becoming a beauty therapist and now has 13 years of experience in the field and eight years of teaching experience.
She wants to encourage women and girls in and around Oxford to believe in their potential and pursue their goals.
Ms Jones is offering free advice to women and girls interested in a career as a beauty therapist.
She said: "Whether you are 16 years old with no qualifications, a young mum, or in a later stage of life and looking to learn new skills, the opportunity is there for anyone who wants it.
"Being a beauty therapist is something that can be done on a full-time or part-time basis.
"It's a great confidence boost to be able to work for yourself, on your own terms.
"It suits all types of people, including mums who have kids at school, or if their current job doesn’t support working within school hours.
"There is no age barrier, so even if you are in your 30s, 40s or older, you can still become a beauty therapist.
"Even people who are not very academic can become beauty therapists, as it is more about creative and visual learning."
Ms Jones wants her own story to serve as an inspiration for other women.
She said: "Becoming a single mum at 16 meant I was judged and looked down on, but I wanted to prove a point and work around my daughter.
"I wanted to use my initiative to earn money and show my daughter and others that you can follow your dreams, even if you are a young single mum."
Ms Jones raised her daughter on her own while building her business from scratch, buying products, tools, and training courses when she could afford them.
Before starting her business, Ms Jones worked various jobs, including a cleaning job and selling Christmas trees.
She also attended college after her daughter was born and worked as a barmaid.
Ms Jones was approached to teach GCSE beauty courses in two secondary schools and a SEN school.
She believes that working for yourself is a great way to live life on your own terms.
Ms Jones said: "Starting my business meant I was able to raise my daughter without any financial support and work hours around her."
If you are interested in becoming a beauty therapist, you can contact Ms Jones for free advice at info@andreadanielleuk.com.
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