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# College students win top two in national massage competition
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/college-students-win-top-two-in-national-massage-competition/
- Published: 2026-06-09T15:15:16.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-09T15:15:16.000Z
- Description: Two beauty therapy students from Suffolk New College have taken first and second place in a national massage skills competition, beating 15 rivals from colleges across the UK.
- Author: Nicola Sebastian
- Tags: News, Suffolk New College, Youth

**Why it matters:** Nina Van-Staden, 19, from Hadleigh, and Amy Hunt, 17, from Harwich, beat 15 students from colleges across the UK to claim first and second place at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) annual skills contest.

**The details:** The pair travelled to Blackpool at the end of May, where they had 30 minutes to complete a back massage with a pre-cleanse and exfoliation. Their work was then judged by industry experts.

Nina placed first, with Amy coming in second.

**What they're saying:** "Once we were all set up it was quite calm. I think we did well. I'm really happy," said Nina.

Amy added: "It has given me confidence. It's very exciting. I guess technically we are one of the top two masseuses in the country. It's been a big opportunity for us."

Hayley McGlone, curriculum co-ordinator for hair and beauty therapy at Suffolk New College, supported the students before and during the competition. "To place top two in this national competition makes me very proud. They worked really hard and it's nice to see them rewarded," she said.

**What's next:** Nina and Amy will next compete in WorldSkills, an international competition that organises national and world vocational contests culminating in a "Skills Olympics"- style event held around the globe every two years. The competition will take place at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College at the end of June.

McGlone added: "We now have high expectations ahead of WorldSkills. Fingers crossed they can get to the national finals."

**The bottom line:** Two students from Suffolk New College have been recognised as the country's top massage practitioners, and with WorldSkills at the end of June, Nina and Amy now have the chance to make it onto the world stage.

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