A DUNFERMLINE mum and business owner has been shortlisted for a national award.

Amy Gear, a busy mum-of-two and owner of Amy G Beauty, is now competing in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards for the second year running.

Speaking to the Press, Amy said: "It's quite surreal, I feel like, 'Is this really happening to little old me?' From when I started, I had no confidence, I was scared, I was nervous, I didn't know if I could make it work or if I was good enough.

"Having all that self-doubt and then being in the situation I am, where I am now teaching the next generation, I am fully booked in the salon for weeks on end and I am up for the UK Hair and Beauty Awards, two years in a row.

"I just never thought I would be in this situation and it's just so surreal, I just can't believe that I have achieved all of this."

Amy not only runs a successful business but she is also a mum of two girls under the age of two, Olivia, who will turn two in October, and little Maeve who is just 10-weeks-old!

"For me, being a mum to two little girls and trying to start a business, I think I have done well! I feel like I have done really good!" she said.

"I am really proud of myself and the business that I've managed to create."

Running out of JO Beauty and Training Academy in the Dunfermline Business Centre, Amy started her training just before the pandemic and had to put her plans on hold.

She continued: "I gained some qualifications just before lockdown, then I fell pregnant at the beginning of lockdown but I decided not to give up and as soon as my daughter was born, I started training again.

"I've been self-employed for about nine months now and it's going brilliantly. I am building up a good client base and getting some lovely regular customers."

Now that she is fully-qualified, Amy has also trained to become a qualified educator and will start teaching the next generations of nail techs soon.

She is in love with what she does.

"I've always had a passion for nails and the beauty industry. It's something that I just never had the confidence to go for.

"I love meeting new people, I can chat the ears off of you! I love talking and speaking with my clients, I love creating something and I like to make people feel good.

"I love my job, I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

Regional titles will be judged in the coming weeks and Amy is looking forward to attending the finals in Birmingham on April 22 next year.