Jodie Maree McKenzie of Aurora Beauty Parlour nominated for Lash, Brow Awards

A young mum who picked up the beauty tools as a ‘side hustle’ while pregnant is proving she has a flair for design with a stack of international award nominations.

Jodie Maree McKenzie, 27, in her Tieri business, Aurora Beauty Parlour. Photo contributed by Jodie Maree McKenzie. Image by Western Arrow Photography

A Central Queensland mum is proving she has a flair for eyebrow and lash design after her work was nominated for a stack of international awards.

Emerald-born Jodie Maree Mckenzie, 27, picked up the beauty tools in 2016 as a “side hustle” while pregnant with her son and studying for a diploma.

After graduation, she and her partner relocated from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast but it was not long before she returned to her Central Queensland roots to raise their family.

Ms McKenzie said it had been a struggle living in a “tiny” two-bedroom unit without a backyard, while both of them worked six days a week with “barely enough money” leftover for nappies.

“It (moving to Tieri) was the best decision we ever made – we expanded our family and had a daughter, and I was finally able to focus on my business and the industry I loved so much.”

She said she opened Aurora Beauty Parlour with the intention of it being a side hobby but it “very quickly became a full time job”.

“I now have clients all over the Central Highlands and Isaac Region – I have clients from Tieri, Capella, Middlemount, Dysart, Clermont, Moranbah and Emerald,” she said.

Jodie Maree McKenzie, 27, and her family. Photo contributed by Jodie Maree McKenzie. Image by Western Arrow Photography

Aurora Beauty Parlour is now a finalist in an international competition held in the UK.

“I have been listed as a finalist in three categories for the Lash Awards and three categories for the Brow Awards,” Ms Mackenzie awards.

Across both awards, Ms Mackenzie is up for Brow Lamination 2023 Expert, Hybrid/Dye Brow 2023 Expert, Brow Artist of the Year, Global Lash Artist of the Year, and Best Volume Set and Lash Artist of the Year.

“Both the Lash and Brow Awards have partnered with the mental health charity, Mind,” Ms McKenzie said.

“I didn’t choose the charity but I did choose to enter these awards because of the charity they are partnering with.”

Ms McKenzie said she had battled depression and anxiety for “the better part” of her life, having been clinically diagnosed “at around 18”.

“I always felt isolated and ashamed, but I’ve reached a point in my life where I want to be

an advocate for speaking out when you’re struggling,” she said.

Follow Aurora Beauty Parlour for more information.

To find out more about the competition click here.