Dedicated Kadi nailed future with hard work

GCSE FAILURE NO BARRIER TO TEEN MAKING SUCCESS OF BEAUTY VENTURE

FROM the age of 13, Kadi Andrew already knew the meaning of hard graft.

While her schoolmates were hanging out, the youngster from Wythenshawe got herself a part-time job in a nail salon at the civic centre.

Five years later, Kadi owns a hugely successful nail business, with clients travelling from as far as Leicester and Blackpool for her treatments.

The 18-year-old has also accepted a position as a beauty therapist on board a cruise ship, touring the Caribbean months.

Having failed most of her GCSEs, Kadi, who has lived in Wythenshawe all her life, believes her story is proof anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Now she wants to inspire other girls in her position to do the same.

“I just really wanted a job when I was younger and it just went from there, I never thought I’d end up where I am now,” Kadi said.

The teenager landed her first job at a nail lounge to earn some extra cash, and ended up falling in love with the beauty industry.

“I was 13 and in school and I just really for nine wanted a job so I could afford to buy my own clothes,” she said.

“I worked there after school and in holidays and absolutely loved working there, seeing how they did the nails and stuff.”

After eight months, Kadi was offered another job at a bigger salon nearby, where she began learning how to do acrylic nails.

From there, she started offering her services to her friends and set up an Instagram account called nailsby_kadi.

The account now has more than 1,000 followers.

“I was too young to drive so I’d end up walking or getting the bus to my friend’s houses, lugging all my heavy equipment