Picture Ref: 77936-29HAIR, beauty and make-up students put on a spectacular event at Swindon College to show off what they've learned.

They dazzled the audience at their end of year show in Regent Circus with a catwalk display based on various themes including Hairstyles Through the Ages and Wild Manes and Wallpaper.

The students, who are all on NVQ courses in hair, beauty and make-up, spent weeks creating a look for their models who then paraded on the catwalk.

Pathway leader and course tutor Rachel Elsey said: "We do internal competitions throughout the year to allow the students to express their creativity.

The winners from those various competitions took part in the show.

"The hair students created a look based on hairstyles through the ages and they spend a lot of time researching the period they had chosen. The make-up students created looks based on the theme of Ladies Day but they did it with a twist and the punk look was featured a lot.

"I was absolutely bowled over by the standard I saw. The students were very very good," said Rachel.

"They were quite nervous because we'd sold all the tickets so there was a big audience.

"But in spite of a few teething problems it all went all right on the night."

One of the students who took part was 18-year-old Amy Barber from Eldene who is a hairdressing student.

She chose the 1940s period for her model's look and also used Elvis Presley as inspiration.

Amy said: "My model Amelia Campisana wore army clothes and had and Elvis quiff.

"I really like that whole army camouflage look and I think it has become very fashionable again."

But Amy admits she suffered from pre-show nerves.

"I had butterflies in my stomach I was quite nervous for my model really."

Amy says she loves the course she is doing at Swindon College and her dream is to become a hairdresser.

Diana Milne