Female tradie claims men say she’s ‘too pretty’ for construction job

A glamorous woman who works in a male-dominated industry has revealed how men react when she tells them what she does for a living.

A female tradie has claimed men don’t believe her when she tells them what she does for work – revealing many state she’s “too pretty” for a construction job.

Melissa Borsellino, a self-proclaimed “girly girl”, explained she’s often forced to show guys the calluses on her hands in a bid to prove she works as a plasterer.

The 27-year-old decided to follow in her dad’s footsteps after an unsuccessful stint working in a pub.

Now, the British woman works full-time on building sites full of men and said she has “yet to meet another woman” working in the field.

“I needed to leave the hospitality industry because it was making me anxious, but I am dyslexic, so my options were limited as I struggle with computers,” Melissa said.

“I thought, ‘What can I do to earn a decent income like a bloke?’”

“Then I had a light bulb moment,” she said, and asked dad Tony, 56, a tradesman of 40 years, to teach her how to plaster.

At first he was sceptical, so she painted his shed to prove she doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.

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By day, Melissa Borsellino dons overalls and steelcap boots. Picture: Mercury Press

But outside of work, she dresses very differently. Picture: Mercury Press

Women have long been part of the construction industry, but it’s not every day you see one “with 24-inch hair extensions and false nails,” Melissa said.

“I have learned to ignore the shocked faces.”

Though she initially struggled to have the stamina, she had the motivation to earn her place.

“I couldn’t even lift a bag of materials when I first started,” she said.

“So I joined the gym and within weeks I was flinging it over my shoulder.”

The tradeswoman has also had to deal with countless “undermining” comments she receives as woman in a male-dominated industry.

“There’s nothing more daunting than having to work on a construction site with just men,” she said.

“It can be patronising, but I have learned to shake it off,” she said.

“I have been told I am ‘too pretty’ to be in this profession, but I didn’t realise there was a certain look for it.”

The British woman said men often claim she’s ‘too pretty’ to be a tradie. Picture: Mercury Press

But she wants to shatter stereotypes and inspire more women to pick up the tools. Picture: Mercury Press

Melissa said she hopes her story inspires other women to persevere at work – especially in a male-dominated industry.

“It is a man’s world, but it doesn’t have to be,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what others think … The only things that matter are being happy within the workplace and continuing to thrive.”

Three years after she first started plastering, Melissa spends her days wearing overalls and steelcap boots while still donning hair and eyelash extensions and fake nails.

Working in construction has also helped her anxiety by allowing her to step out of her comfort zone and face her fears.

“Work is fun, and I am always laughing and joking,” she said.

“We spend the day singing to songs whilst working, so it is home time before we know it.”