The UK struck gold in the desert at the WorldSkills Finals (known as the ‘skills Olympics’) in Abu Dhabi this week.  Kaiya Swain, 22, from Stone Cross, was voted the world’s best young beauty therapist, receiving the gold medal in the WorldSkills Final in a dazzling awards ceremony on Thursday 19th October. She also received a second gold medal for ‘Best of the Nation’, having scooped the highest marks out of the entire UK team.

Kaiya, who attended St Catherine's College (previously Bishop Bell School) trained in beauty therapy at Sussex Downs, and now works at Kaiya Rose Beauty, said: “It was an absolute honour to represent my country. This is a dream come true. I never expected to come out on top.”

Kaiya’s success follows three years of intensive training at Sussex Downs College, which saw her advance through regional heats and a national final, before being selected for Team UK in April this year.  

Talking about her training earlier this year, Kaiya said: “I live and breathe WorldSkills. Fifty per cent is your mindset in these competitions. I am so proud of making it into Team UK. This competition has bettered me as a therapist, making me more employable and setting me a bar above the standard therapist. I believe that through hard work and determination there is nothing that you can’t achieve in the beauty industry.”