From Childhood Dream to Beauty Therapist in Kaitāia
Kleeshae’s Story
Growing up in Whatuwhiwhi, Kleeshae Briggs always dreamed of working in the beauty industry. But living in the Far North meant opportunities to study and gain qualifications close to home were limited.
That changed when she discovered Evolution School of Beauty in Kaitāia, giving her the opportunity to pursue her passion without leaving her family and home behind.
Today, Kleeshae is a qualified Beauty Therapist working at The Beauty Room in Kaitāia. Here, she shares her story in her own words, from taking those first steps into training to building the confidence and skills to turn her childhood dream into a career.
My name is Kleeshae Briggs, and I was born and bred in Whatuwhiwhi, Northland.
In 2024, I completed the Makeup and Skincare course through Evolution School of Beauty, and in 2025–2026 I went on to complete my Level 4 Beauty Therapy qualification.
From a young age, I always remember being asked, “What do you want to do when you get older?” My answer was always the same: “Anything beauty, as long as it’s beauty.” Beauty was never just a passing interest for me, it was always something I imagined myself doing. I loved the idea of being in the industry and becoming a qualified Beauty Therapist one day.
Being from a small town in the Far North, opportunities like this don’t come around often. When I first came across Evolution School of Beauty, I was so grateful. They gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream without having to leave home, my family, and everything familiar to me. Looking back now, enrolling was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
What I enjoyed most wasn’t just learning treatments and techniques it was the personal growth that came with it. Before starting these courses, I was a very different person. I lacked confidence, second-guessed myself often, and was unsure of my own abilities. Standing in front of people, speaking confidently and believing in myself didn’t come naturally to me at all.
Through both the Makeup and Skincare course and the Level 4 Beauty Therapy course, I gained so much more than practical skills. I learned how to communicate with people, step outside my comfort zone, trust myself and back my own abilities. As the months went by, I found myself becoming more confident, not only as a future Beauty Therapist but as a person. The person I am today is completely different from the person who first walked through the doors of Evolution School of Beauty, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Like many students, there were times when I found things challenging and questioned whether I was good enough. Learning new skills takes patience, practice, and determination, and there were definitely moments when I doubted myself and wanted to give up, but what kept me going was my passion for beauty, the support of my incredibly encouraging tutor, Adrienne and constantly reminding myself why I started in the first place.
One of my proudest moments during my studies was being awarded Student of the Year and receiving an Excellence Award. To receive those awards after spending so much of my life doubting myself was something I never EVER expected, and it made me realise just how far I had come. It was such a bittersweet moment.
Completing these qualifications has changed my life in ways I never imagined. Little did I know that years after saying I wanted to do “anything beauty,” I would complete my qualifications and land my first industry job within my first year of entering beauty therapy. If you had told my younger self that one day I would be qualified, working in the beauty industry in my hometown, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
Kleeshae pictured with tutor Adrienne, photo credit: Evolution School of Beauty
While I am incredibly proud of my qualifications, awards, and career achievements, what I am most grateful for is the confidence I gained along the way. Evolution School of Beauty didn’t just teach me beauty therapy it helped shape the person I am today. I will always be grateful for the opportunities, support, and knowledge I gained throughout my journey, and I am excited to continue learning, growing and building my future within the beauty industry.
I will always recommend Evolution School of Beauty.
A big thank you to Kleeshae for sharing her journey with us. It's great to see local training opportunities helping people follow their passions and build careers right here in Te Hiku.
If you'd like to book a beauty treatment with Kleeshae, you can find her at The Beauty Room in Kaitāia, where she's now working as a qualified Beauty Therapist.
