Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
It was a case of the eyes have it for talented Inverness lash artist Lana MacKay.
After entering her first UK awards and being invited to the finals, never for a minute did the Inverness mum-of-two imagine she would end up on stage as a winner.
The 35-year-old from Ness Castle decided to attend The UK Hair and Beauty Awards in Birmingham late last month simply for the experience.
Instead, she was left all in a flutter at the red carpet ceremony after being announced as the Scottish regional winner and accepting her prize from Duncan James from boy band Blue.
“I’d never even entered an awards before. It was just on a whim, basically, not expecting to win anything,” Mrs MacKay explained.
“I only entered for experience, really, and just to meet more people in the industry.
“It was quite a big awards banquet, a real red carpet event and streamed live, with Duncan from Blue there to present the awards.
“I got to meet him and have my picture taken with him, so I was singing Blue all the way back up the road!
“We also met Natasha from Atomic Kitten who did a performance.”
Prior to a career in the beauty industry, Mrs MacKay worked in fashion retail, managing a store before training in lash extensions in 2015.
After working in a salon in Newcastle for just three months in 2017 she started her own business called The Lash Project, reating home to Inverness where she was born and grew up.
“My husband and step-dad built a summer house in my back garden at Ness Castle for me to transform into a small salon and work from,” she recalled.
“I do have training in other beauty treatments but I was booked up with lash treatment 98 per cent of the time, so decided to specialise in lashes only.
“Over the last few years I have developed my skills and offer more styles to my clients.”
Low expectations meant Mrs MacKay was “pretty calm” when her own award category announcement drew close.
“I really didn’t expect anything and I clapped for third place and second place. When he announced my name, I was blown away with the shock, screaming – and then the excitement turned to tears.
“I’m kicking myself that I didn’t film the moment, but I honestly didn’t ever think I would win.”