Jakita Roach from Broadmoor is to represent Pembrokeshire at the world skills competition

The world skills competition is as tough as it gets for student beauty therapists and for Jakita from Pembrokeshire College, it was a challenge she couldn't resist. 

Jakita entered the college round of the competition and was the well-deserved winner.

She was chosen by some tough judges with a huge array of experience - Lisa Mansell, who has managed spas all over the world and has now started Calm Treatment Rooms in Kilgetty, Emma Morris, who was a professional beauty 'Therapist of the Year' winner in 2008, Sammy Ward, who has worked in some of the UKs best spa hotels and has just returned from working for Steiner, as well as Ceri Hewitson-Jones, Jakita's tutor.

They then made the decision to mentor Jakita over the coming months to give her all the tools and knowledge they can for her to be successful in the competition, but to also help her become a wonderful therapist in the future. 

Jakita said: "I started preparing for the competition a few weeks before; we do treatments on clients each week in college and I picked out the treatments that I needed for the competition so that I could get in some extra practice. I had to do a half leg wax, manicure with one hand polished in red and one in French followed by a facial and a day make-up look.

"Overall, the day went well, I didn't realise how many questions I would be asked though. It was tough to do the treatments under so much pressure, but I was happy with how it all went.

"Waiting for the judges feedback and the results was the worst part of the day. I was so nervous to hear what the professionals thought of my treatments. Then it got to the part to find out where I was placed.

"Ceri, my tutor, was the one who broke the news; I was so shocked when she said I had won! I don't think I had ever been so happy before! I had a huge smile on my face for days after."

Lisa Mansell said: "I was delighted to be involved in the judging for this competition and felt that I could help Jakita prepare for the next round in May. She is a very talented therapist and will have a fantastic future in beauty therapy."

Ceri Hewitson-Jones added: "I can't wait for the next competition and to have  the 'world skills experience'. I feel nervous, excited and very protective of Jakita, but she is an outstanding student and I am proud that she will be representing Pembrokeshire College. I think she is in with a good chance of winning."

The whole team will be working hard to ensure Jakita does her very best against the best in Wales at the next round of the competition in May.