Kiana Leigh Bowman - Junior Beauty Therapist

Whetumaterau te maunga

Horouta te waka

Awatere te awa

Ngāti Porou te iwi

Hine rupe te hapū

Hinerupe te marae

Te pepeha o te taha o nene peti.

I have always loved everything about beauty. I would do nails and makeup at school and would even charge people for my mahi. From there I knew that school wasn't really for me and I should go study beauty so I could further my knowledge and get qualifications for something that I was passionate about. I left school at the age of 16 and went into full time work - dedicating my extra time to study Beauty Therapy. I completed a Foundation Styling Course and a Makeup and Skin Care Course at EIT in Hastings and Napier. I absolutely loved it but as soon as I graduated both courses, I found it very hard to find a job working within the industry. I attended multiple interviews and applied everywhere I could, but there was no success which gave me a lot of self - doubt.

I was jumping from different jobs doing what I could to get by. When I was estranged from my family, I made the decision to move to Wairoa to be closer to my partner and hopefully have better luck finding employment in the beauty industry. I was able to get employment around Wairoa doing various jobs but nothing was consistent or stable. I went to Wairoa Young Achievers Trust - a local Wairoa business who were very helpful in my current employment. With my certifications in beauty they recommended me to Amber who then organized and set up my interview. From that point on, everything in my life had changed for the better. I felt wanted, heard and like I finally had a purpose. 

Amber gave me a start date, and I got to be apart of the big move to our new salon in the main street of Wairoa which was such a cool experience. I love every second of my mahi, from start to finish. I've learned and accomplished so much in my time here with the support of Amber and the team. The girls I work with are not only my work colleagues, they are whanau and I know I will always be well looked after. My self worth, self respect and confidence has grown a lot since I've been here and I know I'm going to keep growing as a young adult moving forward on this pathway I am taking.