A SWINDON salon owner could be crowned the best in the south west during a prestigious awards ceremony next week.

Emma North, who owns Simply Beautiful by Emma based in Cheney Manor, has been shortlisted in the English Hair & Beauty Awards for the third year running and now the 26-year-old is hopeful she will take home the crown.

“My clientele saw the awards online and loads of them ended up voting for me, which was so lovely,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to next Sunday because there is going to be lots of drinks and dancing too because I think there is a band at the ceremony so I’m excited.”

The English Hair & Beauty Awards, which is now in its fourth year, aims to show appreciation for those in the beauty industry that leave people looking and feeling fantastic.

Emma faces stiff competition from salons across the region who were put forward for the accolade by their customers before a shortlist was drawn up by judges based on client testimonials, salon philosophy, photos and a list of treatments provided.

Emma decided to create Simply Beautiful by Emma back in 2012, aged 22 but despite being a young entrepreneur at the time, she said she has always known that the beauty industry was the best career path.

“It has always been something I’ve been interested in from painting my toe nails as a kid and it was when I had to make a decision on what I wanted to do at college that beauty seemed the perfect route and I’ve done nothing else since,” she said.

“I had worked at various places and salons and one day I came to the realisation that I didn’t agree with the way the treatments were being carried out and that people deserved what they paid for.

“I wanted to offer people a bit more of a personal service because some of the treatments I do, such as waxing, are quite intimate and I feel like a lot of beauty clients feel rushed when they go for treatments.

“So instead I’ve tried to create somewhere that people can come in and feel welcome and relaxed so I’m happy to be shortlisted again in one of the industry’s most prestigious awards.”

Emma has previously won three national awards and been nominated for over 12 awards from industry-renowned organisations in hard-fought categories including best hair and make-up artist in the south west, five star customer service, salon of the year in the south west and the ‘Best in Swindon’ award.

She will find out if she has won next Sunday at the Athena Leicester Hotel.