THREE beauty students representing their college led the way in a regional competition.

Polly Wood, Abigail Cadle and Alannys Diaz from Sussex Downs College in Lewes all came home from the regional heats of a World Skills competition with victories under their belts.

Beauty therapy students from colleges around England competed in the regional heat last week.

Sussex Downs College hosted the regional heat, with representatives from seven different colleges in Lewes to take part.

Judges praised the high standards of everyone on the day, making the first place wins for Polly in beauty therapies and Abigail for face and body as well as a third place win for Alannys in beauty therapies, particularly impressive.

Polly and Alannys gave massages for their categories and Abigail was assessed on a facial treatment, all under timed conditions.

Sussex Downs College alumna Kaiya Swain, who won the 2017 World Skills gold award and was crowned the world’s best young beauty therapist, attended the competition to support those taking part.

She said: “You might start off filled with nerves but competing makes you much more confident, it makes you believe in yourself.

“And competing in the World Skills means your standard of skill is high.”

Also present was another former student of Sussex Downs College, Becky West, who won levels 2 and 3 of the national heats and is now on the UK Squad competing for the World Skills.

She said: “I’ve learned so much about both mindset and communication doing these competitions.

“It has brought me out of my shell.”