Nurse wins £8K 10 Years Younger makeover
10 Years Younger winner Anita Crant.
A NURSE who describes herself as a "psychedelic butterfly trapped inside a crusty cocoon" has been chosen as the winner of the Highland News Group’s 10 Years Younger competition.
The 44-year-old wants to be transformed in the £8,000 contest as she says due to suffering depression she completely missed out on her 30s and before she knew it was hitting 40.
Anita Crant who works in the dermatology unit at Raigmore Hospital will now be put through her paces by a host of beauty industry experts, dental specialists and fitness instructors during the 12-week makeover.
Last year’s 10 Years Younger winner saw a school janitor with a "jelly belly" being given a complete makeover.
Yvonne Macleod (46) of Alness, who works at Coulhill Primary School, said the contest completely changed her life.
Anita, who lives in Fairfield Road in Inverness with her two sons, Nyall (16) and Luke (15) and her partner Andy Jones, told the HNG why she entered the competition sponsored by Rosedene House, Fit4Less and Eden Dental Clinic. She said: "I feel like I missed out on my 30s. I was married and we split up and I was left on my own with the boys.
"I basically had my head down and was trying to get through life. I ended up with depression and was having anxiety attacks, and I never went out. Basically the years just passed me by in a blur – what I was going to be wearing or how I looked was the last thing on my mind."
Anita, who also works part-time in shop Monsoon, added: "When I hit 40 I knew I had to get a grip. I started internet dating and met Andy. However, I now don’t recognise myself. I feel as though I am in a crusty cocoon and there is a psychedelic butterfly trapped inside.
"Andy is always telling me to dress up but I just feel too fat and yuck. I don’t make the most of myself."
Speaking about her hopes for the transformation she said she hopes Fit4Less, situated on Harbour Road, would be able to help her shift some more weight.
"I was on antidepressants for a while and I put weight on. I have managed to lose a stone-and-a-half myself, but since December, I have not lost anymore.
"At the end of this I want people to be shocked at how different I will hopefully look. I want to get fit. At the moment I feel old. I am a size 16 but would love to get down to a 12. That might be ambitious, but if I work hard there is nothing to say I can’t achieve that.
"I am in a rut and I need someone to help me out of it."
Anita hopes the experts at newly opened Rosedene House in Drummond Crescent will be able to work their magic on her hair and skin.
She said: "I don’t mind what they do to my hair. On the beauty side of things, I would love a skin peel or a dermabrasion. Because of my work I am interested in skin. My eyes are also very dark so if there was something that could be done to sort that I would be delighted."
Whilst Anita has already forked out thousands of pounds to have her top set of teeth fixed, she is now paranoid her bottom set look discoloured in comparison and hopes Eden Dental Clinic on Bishop’s Road will help.
She said: "I have had problems with my teeth and I felt like an old hag, so I got the top set fixed. However, I couldn’t afford to get anything done on the bottom. I would be delighted if something could be done to make them match up so it’s not so obvious."
What the sponsors think:
Stephen Laurie, general manager at Fit4Less, said: "Anita is a great candidate for this competition. She is really fired up which is great and we will put her through her paces to make sure that at the big reveal she looks fabulous."
Sally Foster and Lorraine Hendrie, practice managers with the Eden Dental Clinic, said: "We can’t wait to begin working with Anita. She seems dedicated and focussed and is really looking froward to her new smile."
June Mackay, director and owner of Rosedene House, said: "We are really looking forward to working with Anita. With Anita’s determination and the treatments available at Rosedene House we will all see great results."
