You’re reading the fashion section of Student Direct. Chances are, then, that you might just have a fleeting interest in clothes, beauty, and even the fashion world at large. You might, also, have been overdoing it here in Manc, one too many late nights or long cocktails leaving you in a beauty rut, and wishing for a fairy godmother to brush away the dark circles and give your hair back its lustre. To whom can you turn?
Well, the 2009 established Manchester Grooming Academy is hear to heed your well-heeled call. The Northern Quarter based company offer luxe life lessons in a chic setting.
On offer are 4 hour blitz workshops, various party packages for a special treat for the fashionably inclined and the full 8 week evening course package, week 5 of which I sit in today. Although the Academy offers courses for girls from the age of six, my compatriots range from age 16 to 24, stunning girls who feel they need pointers and guidance to a career in fashion and modelling, and the atmosphere is an excitable buzz as the class begins.
Throughout, the girls are quizzed on their grooming routines, advised by the tutors and treated to freebies- myself graciously receiving an eyebrow tweeze, hand massage, st-tropez tan and full facial that, afterwards, saw me bearing no physical signs of staying up dancing until 5.30 the night before. The most fun, and shamelessly hilarious, part of the night, I found though, was the ‘catwalk clinic’ at the very end of the class, where the ladies were sent on a supermodel strut after receiving tips, encouragement and cat-calls from the tutors, one a stunning ex-supermodel with 15 years experience.
After my initial cynicism and being told to ‘imagine I was in a bar…and the hottest buy there was in your sights…’ I happily, yet somewhat unprofessionally, tripped around the room to the blasting GaGa on the stereo. Afterwards, the girls all congratulated each other and I left with a new elation and my head held high, but realising I wasn’t quite confident enough yet to practice my new strut to the whole of Piccadilly Gardens on the walk to the bus stop.
I wholeheartedly recommend the courses and the Academy, especially to readers with a desire to break into modelling, but even to girls just wanting to try a class with a mate for some tips, freebies and to strut their stuff. You’ll walk away with a bundle more knowledge and confidence.
Check out: http://www.thegroomingacademy.co.uk
Or search for The Grooming Academy on Facebook.
