SOPHIE Freegard of Tops Hair Salon & Beauty in Melksham has proved she is a cut above the rest after being crowned the winner of a scholarship worth £2,500. 

The senior stylist went through a six-month application process, competing against fellow hairdressers in the second Christofer Mann Step Up & Shine Scholarship, to win a year of bespoke training and a mentoring session with hair veteran Debbie G.

Ms Freegard, 24, of Hilperton, had to prove to judges she had the skills by submitting a YouTube video, having a series of interviews and two further rounds of judging before she was announced as winner on April 20 at a glittering event in London, in front of many high-profile hairdressers.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked when they announced my name,” she said. “I was shaking so much and I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but I’m really excited about meeting Debbie G and getting started.”

The scholarship is run in conjunction with The Fellowship for British Hairdressing and The National Hairdressers’ Federation.

Fellowship president Errol Douglas said: “Step Up and Shine is an amazing project, it’s a way of uncovering the uncut diamonds of our industry and giving young people without resources or contacts the opportunity to learn from the best and progress their career.”

Paul Curry, director of the Federation and World Hair, added: “Sophie showed so much passion for education and our industry. She really shone throughout the process and sums up everything Christofer would have wanted in a new recruit.”