Tracey, 36, has been in the business since she left school aged 16, and is now the proud owner of Beautiful Bride Makeovers.

She attends to brides all over the North East, and now runs make-up parties for young teens too.

>> Read our make-up group test in Monday's Sunderland Echo

When Tracey left school, she began a beauty therapy course and called different modelling agencies looking for work experience.

Her persistence paid off and she was granted a trial week at a modelling agency.

But her first day was a bit of a shock.

Tracey said: "A company called Top Floor Management said I could come in and do work experience. I got the shock of my life when I realised they did Page Three shoots.

"They said I could come in and shadow their make-up artist but when I got there she was nowhere to be seen, so I just had to get on with it!

"There were eight girls, a couple of magazine shoots, a portfolio shoot, and a couple of 'try-outs'.

"I loved it – I learned how to make-up nipples and disguise thread veins and all kinds of things. At the end of the week, they gave me a job.

"Some of the girls were terrifying, complete divas, but many were new to it, like me, and we got on great. After a bit, the owner asked me to do a clothed photoshoot so I would know how those girls felt in front of the camera. I was really nervous but once I'd done it I started to spend more time on set and help the girls with their nerves and make sure everything went smoothly.

"The weird thing was that once I started working there, lots of girls I knew would show me their boobs and ask if I thought they would be good models – I had to explain I don't look at those bits!"

Alongside her job, Tracey began to do bridal make-up – and found she had a real flair for it.

Tracey said: "The thing I love the most about my job is helping women look like they're in a magazine. There's such a satisfaction in creating that perfect look and seeing my clients' excitement when they look in the mirror."

Tracey launched Beautiful Bride Makeovers three years ago after she got married and moved to Sunderland.

She said: "I love doing weddings and I tend to make friends with the bride and help with all the little things that need to be remembered on the day.

"One lady said to me after she was married 'You were the only calm person in the room and that really helped.'"

Tracey is planning to expand her make-up, and has just recruited her sister Bex, 27, to help with the workload. And now her make-up parties for young teens have taken off.

Tracey said: "Girls get to the age when they want to experiment with make-up and I think it's important and fun for them to learn how to look good.

"When I was young I had my fair share of disasters – I used to wear blue mascara and gold eyeshadow!"

* For further information, call 525 1459 or 07838241814, www.beautifulbridemakeovers.co.uk or email info@beautifulbridemakeovers.co.uk.