Newtonmore's Rachelann nominated for UK Hair and Beauty Award just three months after starting business
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A mum from Newtonmore who has overcome a 'devastating' medical diagnosis has been nominated for a national award just three months after starting her business.
Rachelann Morris (21) has been short-listed as a finalist in the 'Best New Talent' category of the UK Hair and Beauty Awards for her Elgin-based spray tanning business 'Bronzed Beauties'.
The nomination represents a remarkable turnaround for Rachelann after she was diagnosed with a condition known as Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder (NEAD) in 2019.
People with the disorder experience episodes of temporary loss of control with Rachelann, at one point, having up to six seizures every week resulting in temporary paralysis from the waist down.
"I was officially diagnosed in December of 2019 after having seizures for nearly a year at that point, it felt like such a long and draining process," Rachel said.
"I just felt like a test dummy but when I was officially diagnosed it felt like a relief at first, to have a name put beside it, to say these things were happening because of this condition.
"It wasn’t until my next meeting with the neurology team that I learned there’s no cure or medication for this and that’s when I really started to struggle."
Rachelann says that she feared she would never be able to have a 'normal' life again and that the thought of living with the condition for the rest of her life 'seriously scared' her.
However, after she became pregnant with her daughter, Rachelann decided that she needed to change 'something within herself'.
"I wasn’t going to let this condition stop me from doing everything I wanted to," she said.
"I wanted to show my daughter what strength was, and to give her a good role model in life.
Three years after receiving the news that her life may never be the same again, Rachelann is now a proud mum, business owner and a national award nominee.
She adds that her business has helped restore her confidence and she is looking forward to what the future holds for her.
"People come to me so I can give them confidence in themselves," Rachelann added.
"They don’t see the disabled side of me, they just see my work and talent and that’s a dream come true.
"I never wanted to be a burden with my condition, I just wanted to be treated like everybody else.
"My plans for the future are to keep being the best mum that I can be and to show her that she can achieve anything too."
Winners of the UK Hair and Beauty Awards will be announced in April next year.
