HAIRDRESSING student Emma Watson is heading for the big time -- it's cut and dried!

The 21-year-old, who is studying for an NVQ at Preston College, recently walked away from a national competition with one of the top prizes.

Emma missed out on first place in the Head & Shoulders category of the Simply Beautiful Exhibition by a snip.

She also scooped highest overall average for a college and was presented with the President's Cup to acknowledge the achievement.

Emma said: "It was a huge surprise, as there were so many good entries.

"My model, Kelly Denton, and I had picked out the ones we thought would come first and second. "It wasn't until they announced that they had decided to give a third prize this year that we thought we had a chance, but we didn't think we'd come second.

"Everyone else who received prizes was really calm; we were hugging each other and screaming."

Emma's previous VIA Diploma in theatre and media make-up at the college has prepared her for this competition.

She added: "The judges said if I was to work on the overall effect of the look, including head pieces and hair, I would be ready to get first prize."

The topic of her competition category was 'safari' and Emma used a latex mask on Kelly's face to add to the effect.

Emma, a former Southland's School pupil in Chorley, has a long-time love of theatrical make-up. She said: "I have been painting children's faces since I was 12. I used to bribe my little sister to model for me, and when she got too old I used to make my little brother sit for me."

And in her spare time? Emma loves to entertain -- doing stilt walks, fire juggling, trapeze, stilt dancing and even spends weekends as a court jester for Mediaeval Banquets!