08/07/2025
Scratch Stars 2025: The Pedicure Chronicles
Well… I’m back! Back from a place where pedicures are performed on manicure tables (yes, really), while we perch on wobbly wheely chairs in a room so grimy, even dodgy NSS salons would be offended. Honestly, I’ve seen cleaner festival toilets.
Consultation? A breezy 10 minutes. And the winners? Let’s just say they seem very… chummy with the judges.
I’ve survived 20 years with a fully booked diary, never once felt the need to compete—until 2025 came along and said, “Surprise!”
So here it is: my honest take on the Scratch Stars Awards 2025…
When the lovely slid into my DMs about a new pedicure category, I thought—FINALLY! Something I live and breathe! Pedicures are massive. Foot health? Criminally under-promoted. Most people have no clue where to go when their feet scream for help.
I thought: this is my moment. Let’s raise awareness. Let’s shout about feet!
Yay! 🎉
Fast forward: I find myself model-hunting, planning the trip to London (couldn’t have done it without you, Jessie 🩷), stepping into the venue… and BAM. First shock: it’s a mess.
The setup? Tiny manicure tables and chairs that looked like they’d retired in 2003.
No proper pedicure chairs, no ergonomic stools, nothing spine-friendly or remotely client-comfy. Just two ancient grey chairs with wheels. Wheels. I felt like I was prepping for a Mario Kart tournament, not a professional competition.
And then: The Consultation.
In real life? I use a digital system, send my client a full form 24 hours in advance, and spend a solid 45 minutes discussing health, history, goals—you name it.
At Scratch? 10 minutes.
It took me 6 just to get her postcode.
And before I could ask about her actual feet, they asked me to leave the room.
HELLO?! Some of us legally need to do cardiovascular assessments. This isn’t a game. This is people’s health.
Then the confusion really kicked in:
They said, “just a regular pedicure with red polish.”
Meanwhile, all the finalists are Foot Health Practitioners or Podiatry students.
There’s nothing “regular” about this!
Oh, and the model? Visible medical issues on her feet.
So… am I competing as a beauty therapist or a clinical professional? Because the treatment plans for those two hats are VERY different.
Colour me confused.
Now, onto the practical part—bless my Jess for being flexible, holding her leg in the air like a yoga master for an hour.
Otherwise, we’d have had to wheel her down to the Thames on that death trap of a chair.
The floor? Dirty.
Wires? Taped down with builder’s tape like we’re in a low-budget crime scene.
Chairs? So grimy, I half expected them to grow mushrooms.
The vibe? Circa 1995, and not in a fun, retro way.
Oh, and the pièce de résistance—regular nail polish.
Yep. The one we used back in the Spice Girls era.
I’d spent hours revising corneocytes and dry pedi science, brushing up on podo discs, ready to show off all I’ve learned… and I’m judged on how evenly I can paint a tiny pinkie nail. Brilliant.
And guess what?
No one—literally no one—asked about the actual pedicure.
No before-and-after photos.
No questions about foot health.
Nothing.
If I’d known, I’d have skipped all the prep and just brought my polish collection.
To the amazing girls who entered—you’re the real stars.
Your social media is inspiring. You promote foot health every day.
I see you. You are the PEDICURISTS.
Keep doing what you do. Keep feet healthy. Keep raising the bar. All 3 of you, plus me 🤪.
As for Scratch Stars?
You’ve got one star from me.
I won’t be back. And I definitely won’t be recommending.
Bye-ee! 👋🦶
