Jen turned her side hustle into a business with training at UCOL
Jen Geraghty never dreamed of going into the beauty industry.
As a teenager, she wasn’t even remotely interested in skincare, or makeup, or beauty regimes. Yet, she recently opened a successful beauty and skincare business in Levin, called Nation Beauty.
While working as a childbirth educator, she moonlighted as a health, wellness and beauty company salesperson and quickly realised how much she enjoyed working in the industry and enrolled at UCOL to study beauty therapy.
“My side hustle actually provided me with the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mum for my three daughters, which was great, but after 18 months of that, I needed more alongside it. So that’s when I began looking for something to study, to keep my brain going.
“I looked everywhere, but ultimately UCOL Te Pu¯ kenga was the best choice for me. I really wanted to have a face-to-face learning experience and then when I saw the beauty course it ticked all the boxes. It was only a year, it was practical handson learning, and it complemented my side hustle.”
Geraghty, 34, began studying with the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy Level 4 and also completed the ITEC international qualification, and graduated recently with a New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy.
Less than halfway into her studies she began to work towards establishing her own clinic to work from fulltime once she had graduated as a qualified beauty therapist, using “every cent” she had.
She opened Nation Beauty in December 2021 having gained qualifications along the way, but on graduating was able to go fulltime in February and has hired staff to help to keep up with demand.
“I specialise in skincare, which is where my passion lies. I have purchased a hydradermabrasion machine, LED, and oxygen dome facial machine, with plans to add further services to my facial treatment menu. I also provide spray tanning, waxing, lash and brow tinting/shaping, lash lifts and brow
lamination services.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of friends and family.”
Meanwhile, Horowhenua campus students were among 1501 to graduate from Manawatu¯ , Wairarapa, Horowhenua, and Whanganui regions and formally receive their qualifications in recent weeks, with many able to share their achievements with family and friends at graduation ceremonies.