Former Tui Airlines cabin crew member Tori Rosero found herself out of a job when the pandemic struck but she quickly pivoted to turn her makeup passion into a new Liverpool venture. Tony McDonough reports

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020 it had a devastating impact on the travel and airline sector and many, such as Tori Rosero, found themselves out of work.

Tori, from Prescot, had had been a member of the cabin crew at Tui Airlines. In her own words she knew she had to be “proactive and take matters into my own hands”. So she turned her passion for passion for semi-permanent makeup into a new career.

Launching her own training academy, Glow & Blade, Tori set up her own studio in Oh Darlin, a salon based in Dunes Way, Sandhills. She had studied for a degree in SFX makeup artistry (special effects) at The Manchester College and had always been creative, enjoying doing wedding makeup and working at weekends for her clients.

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She undertook an additional semi-permanent makeup course and has never looked back, splitting her working time in half focusing on aesthetics, lip blush and microblading for her clients, while also teaching at her academy.

She explained: “When I lost my job I was devastated. I absolutely loved being part of the cabin crew and travelling the world but at the very beginning of the pandemic, this was impossible.

“In March 2020 I began writing my semi-permanent makeup courses, spending the first lockdown being productive. I delivered my first course to my students just after the initial lockdown was lifted.

“When I say I started from the bottom, I really did. I had no idea how to advertise, what to charge or how to even get clients through the door, let alone start my own training academy.

“When my first course dates were released, they sold out within 24 hours. I was in shock but since then, I’ve gone on to train hundreds of students in Semi Permanent Makeup and have loved every second.”

Specialising in microblading for brows, lip blush and aesthetics, Tori has gone on to win Gold at the British Hair & Beauty Awards for Training Centre of Excellence and she’s also a Finalist in The UK Hair and Beauty Awards for Semi-Permanent Makeup Artist of the Year, with the results being  announced in March.

She added: “To have won an award and been shortlisted for a second is absolutely amazing. This time two years ago Glow & Blade didn’t even exist. I’m so grateful to have been able to work with so many clients as well as being recognised in the Hair & Beauty Industry for my efforts.”

Glow & Blade offers Lip Blush, Beginner’s Microblading and Brow Lamination courses.