A FRIZINGTON beauty salon owner who has reached the final of national awards just 20 months after her boyfriend's tragic death is recalling his words of encouragement.

Lynn Kyles who owns Beauty Secrets by Lynn has reached the finals of the Hair and Beauty Awards.

Lynn created her salon almost six years ago; it started off in her own home then before she got the keys to her own salon in September 2019.

Lynn said: "I still can’t believe that I’ve been nominated and I keep going back look at the email making sure it’s real. Nothing like this has ever happened to me."

Lynn explained when she opened the email and received her medal she cried and went to tell her children. She said: "They both couldn’t believe it and both said how proud they where of me.

The winner is picked on November 11 and Lynn has her fingers crossed.

The award means just that much more to her and her children following the hardship she has faced after her boyfriend's tragic death. Mark, who was Lynn's childhood sweetheart and the father to her youngest son Theo tragically passed away on March 9 2021.

Mark was in the army and had been serviced in Iraq. Lynn looked after Mark whilst he was unwell and two young children on her own whilst building her business and gaining more qualifications.

Lynn returned to work just a few months after Marks passing. However, after the receiving the news that her salon had been selected for the finals, she recalls Mark's word before his death.

She said: "I remember Mark saying to me, you done it Lynn, everything you said you would do, you done all and it's made me love you even more.

"I will never forgot what he said to me and those words stick in my head and have pushed me to want more for my business."

Since Mark's death, Lynn has qualified in aesthetics and advanced aesthetics, she will be opening her own training academy after Christmas. Lynn said: "To win this award would mean everything to me as I want people to see if I can do it anyone can. Even with all the heartache it has taught me that if you want something in life if you work  hard enough you can achieve anything.

"I think I am definitely proof of that."

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