Preston beautician Imogen Southwood ranked among the top 100 beauty influencers in the UK named young entrepreneur of the year

Imogen Southwood, 23, who owns 5 star rated The iLashed Academy in Ashton on-Ribble was selected from almost 1,500 nominations and entries as a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur category at this year’s EVAs (Enterprise Vision Awards) which was held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Friday, September 29.

The event, now in its 12th year, showcases and celebrates women in business in a wide variety of industries from social enterprise and small artisan businesses to ground-breaking innovators and global brands, and is sponsored by UCLan and Natwest Bank.

Imogen who also has her own beauty brand iLashedbyimogen told the Post: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the awards evening at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool was incredible. Making a speech in front of so many people wasn’t easy but now I hope to be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs and young professionals striving to make a meaningful mark in the female business world and I’m looking forward to working with the University of Central Lancashire who were the sponsors of the award.”

She started out in business while aged 17 and studying for her A levels, when she set up as a home-based eyelash technician. At 19 she set up the iLashed Academy in Ashton and now has plans to launch her own retail brand building on her successful online store.

Asked what her favourite part of job is, Imogen, who attended Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Fulwood, added: “It would have to be enhancing a person’s natural beauty and seeing the smile on their face.”