An East Belfast woman has emotionally thanked her clients as she continues to work after facing a devastating terminal cancer diagnosis.
Back in August, hairdresser Ashlee Nicole Lowe (29) was told she had lichen sclerosis, a skin condition that causes itchy white patches on the genitals or other parts of the body.
She later found out that she had Stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and was given a life expectancy of two to seven years.
The mum-of-one continues to work full time when she can at Royal Beauty on the Shankill Road.
Despite what she is going through, Ashlee Nicole was awarded as runner up and Highly Commended Hair Extension Specialist of the Year at the Northern Ireland Hair & Beauty Awards 2021 which were held at the Europa Hotel on Sunday night.
As she is currently fighting an infection, Ashlee Nicole's colleagues accepted the award on her behalf.
The mum-of-one has also previously won Wedding Hairdresser of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
Speaking to Be, the East Belfast woman said: "I went to the doctors as I had lumps down below and when I went to get the lumps checked, they came back as cancerous from the biopsy. I then went to pre-op in the City and when they did a white blood cell count, it came back as too high to have the operation.
"When it came back, it was chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We found out that this had spread, it was the primary cancer. At the minute I am having chemotherapy.
"I am going to work full time still, even though I am not well, I kind of think that when you lie down and let it take you, that it will take you quicker.
"Hairdressing is like a hobby to me, it's not a job. I just keep going in, clients keep me bubbly, I just don't want to stop. I think that when you stop, you start to give up."
Ashlee Nicole has thanked her clients for all the support they have given her.
She added: "I couldn't do without them. I have been hairdressing now for over 14 years. The support from every one of them from when I got diagnosed... Like when I go in, people are like 'how are you still working? I can't believe you are still working' but if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be.
"They encourage me every day just to get up and keep going. I just love what I do. I love seeing people come in and then their faces when they are leaving because they are completely transformed."
The mum-of-one explained how emotional she gets when her hard work is recognised with these awards.
"I just cry every time, I'm a mess. You think how many amazing hairdressers there is in the whole of Belfast, not even Northern Ireland. When you place in that.. even getting to the finals is a big achievement. Winning, or even placing is just overwhelming. There are so many amazing [hairdressers and beauticians].
"Every year I think I'm not going to win and point out who I think it's going to be. And when I do win, I just break down. With the Hair & Beauty Awards, it's the clients that vote you in, and after they vote you in it goes to the judges and they make the final decision.
"It was the clients that really made me win Highly Commended last night."
The East Belfast hairdresser hopes to positively encourage others who are also suffering.
"Just keep going. Something like this can knock you down, make you very depressed and want to close doors and not go out anywhere.
"I just want to encourage others to keep going, no matter what, you can get through it. We all know what the end is going to be, but if you live life behind a locked door you aren't going to have a good one," she said.
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