Hairdresser says representing UK in Skills Olympics will be a ‘surreal’ moment
ELLIE HAS BEEN HAIRDRESSING SINCE SHE WAS 16 YEARS OLD
If I were to be announced as the winner in Shanghai, it would probably be the best moment in my career so far Ellie Mumby
A HAIRDRESSER from Grimsby has said she finds it surreal to be representing the UK at the upcoming Skills Olympics in Shanghai, China in October this year.
Ellie Mumby, 22, started hairdressing when she was just 16 as a student at the Grimsby Institute. After many years of practice, she is now preparing to swap her salon chair for China as she ventures to Shanghai for the World Skills event. The Skills Olympics are normally held every other year, but due to Covid, the 2021 games are being held this year.
She started out her career as an apprentice under Jack Sibley, owner of Sibley Hair in Cleethorpes, entering her first competition when she was just 17. After numerous heats and knock out rounds, Ellie was chosen to represent the UK in the hairdressing category for this years games.
Although she is incredibly excited about the competition, it’s not something she ever thought she could achieve. She explained: “I started hair dressing when I was just 16 as an apprentice here [Sibley Hair] and studying at the Grimsby Institute.
“I’d always liked the idea of hairdressing so decided dec ded to give g e it t a go in terms te so of ajob. a job. At one point, I thought I was going to have to give it up because I discovered I was allergic to certain hair products.”
Ellie started competing at the age of 17 and made it to the finals in her very first competition. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength.
She said: “I entered the World Skills in 2019 and had to do a number of regional and national heats to get to this point. It came down to five competitors and then we went in to the knock out stages.
“It was really nerve-racking during those events, but I eventually got selected for the team in February 2020. I never thought I’d get here, when I was told I’d won my immediate reaction was pure shock. It was nice to know I was maybe better than I thought too.”
Now, Ellie is doing plenty of training to get herself ready for the Olympics in October. She said: “It’s quite an intense training programme, but I just keep practicing and most weekends I travel to Hereford to train with another salon.
“The whole thing doesn’t feel real yet if I’m honest. Whilst there is still five months of training to get through, I’m really excited about the experience. If I were to be announced as the winner in Shanghai, it would probably be the best moment in my career far.”