Purrfect 'parent'

Louise Wrankmore, Abu Dhabi-based beauty and image consultant

My parents taught me from an early age to think for myself, to make decisions, follow my heart and to take my own path.

I was born in England and raised in Banchory, 30 miles east of Aberdeen, Scotland. Situated in Royal Deeside where the Queen holidays, we were very lucky with our surroundings.

Banchory is renowned for its beauty: freshwater salmon jumping upstream, breathtaking walks and tranquillity. Within 30 minutes you can be in a big city; however, on the drive there you are constantly reminded that you're in one of the most beautiful places in the world … green hills, field after field of farmland and very often the biggest, blackest rain clouds you'll ever see.

When I was young, I was easily influenced …
… by my friends and I have to admit, I became somewhat of a difficult teenager. When I look back, my mother influenced my choices greatly. Regardless of where a person lives, there are so many pressures on adolescents and teenagers that lead to difficult choices. Nonetheless, I chose to listen to my mother and did not get involved with the darker sides of life. Since then, I have never looked back and I believe I'm giving life the best go I possibly can!

Motherhood never appealed to me …
… when I was in my twenties. I was just too busy leading a jetsetting lifestyle with my husband, working hard and reaping the benefits. My husband, Andy, understood this and my parents began to accept that maybe only my brother and his wife were to produce grandchildren. Andy and I surprised everyone when we announced that we are expecting our first child in February.

I believe I am a student of fate!
When I was 18 it seemed as though all my friends had their career paths mapped out. They knew exactly what they wanted to do with their lives. It was the summer of 1994 and we had left school. Everyone I knew had summer jobs to earn money before they left for university. I had a summer job, but uni was not calling me.

Instead, I went to the US for a year. During my time in West Bloomfield, Michigan I lived with the Edson family as an au pair for their children. I had the time of my life but when 12 months were up, I still didn't know what I wanted to do. After living in Germany for a couple of months, I flew home and tried to figure out what to do.

One of my girlfriends was interested in reflexology and had enrolled at the local college. I decided to do the same and this was when fate took over. I didn't have much time, so I ran into the college, collected the forms and threw them into my handbag. It was only when I got home that I realised I'd been given the wrong form. I had the application for beauty therapy!

As I read through the information, I realised it was the perfect course for me! When I told my parents, though, my father was not pleased. At the time, girls who studied beauty therapy were viewed as dropouts, bound to end up working in some small, backstreet beauty salon with no real prospects.

But I had other plans. I knew that if I followed my heart and my head I could do anything I wanted to. I enjoyed every minute of the two-year course and before I had graduated I already had a job with Steiner, working in the spas onboard the most beautiful cruise ships in the world.

I worked at sea for six years, visiting some of the most amazing places in the world.
My first ship, the Grand Princess, at the time was the largest, most expensive luxury ocean liner ever built. I had never seen anything like it and it was to be my ‘office' and home for eight months. I started working as a massage therapist, which was hard physical work. I worked 12 hours a day and every hour I had a new client. On the bright side, I had the most fabulously toned arms.

I saw places that I would have only dreamed of. These included sailing to Manaus in the heart of the Amazon (and seeing bugs the size of dinner plates) and watching penguins fall over backwards in the Falklands as they watched the RAF airplanes fly overhead! My favourite memory is of walking through the streets of Barcelona, watching the street artists, looking up at the wonderful buildings and eating the best tapas in town!

While working on one ship, I met Andy. My mother was so proud when I told her that I had met an officer. In fact, I believe she interpreted it as I was dating the captain! This wasn't quite true, but he did look dashing in his officer's uniform.

Eventually, Andy got a good offer in the UK and returned home. After working as a detox therapist, I was promoted to the manager of a spa on a Caribbean to Alaska cruise ship. I worked there for a while, but left to be closer to Andy.

Returning to the UK, I secured a job with Elemis, the main spa brand we used on the ships, and became part of its international training team and later the senior business development manager.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for my husband. A teenage rebel, there were many people who wrote him off at an early age but he has proved them all wrong. He is my teacher, my inspiration and the man who can always make me laugh and see the brighter side of life, even on the bluest of days.

After three years in the UK, we had itchy feet …
… and Andy was offered a great job at Abu Dhabi Ship Building. Without a second thought, he took it. Just three weeks after we got married, he moved to the UAE. I stayed behind for three months to sort out the house.

I secured a job in Dubai with Elemis. However, the commute took its toll and I decided there was more to life than the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway – ultimately, my health and sanity!
My girlfriend, Shannon, gave me the idea to venture into something completely new. So this summer I opened my own colour and image consultancy in Abu Dhabi. I am very busy with my new venture and preparing for the birth of our child.

I think Abu Dhabi is a great place to bring up children and I love the fact that children of all nationalities socialise and go to school together.

During a trip back to the UK, I visited a colour consultant …
… yet even before then, I knew in my heart there was something about understanding colour that made me feel great. Once I attended the three-step colour journey, I knew this would change my life. I also knew that as an educator, I'd be able to teach others to feel as good and confident as I do.
With colour analysis, I teach what colours you should and shouldn't wear. I teach people how to show off their best features with the right colours.

An an image consultant, I help men and women project the best image they can. I've spent a long time in the health and beauty industry, educating clients on how to look and feel healthy from the inside out. Now I'm focusing on working on my clients' confidence levels, helping them polish their appearance to perfection.

Louise Wrankmore can be contacted at louisewrankmore@yahoo.co.uk


CAPTIONS:
‘I knew that if I followed my heart and my headI could do anything I wanted to.'