WHEN determined teenager Emma Preston decided she wanted a career in the hair and beauty industry she turned to Facebook for help.

Stanecastle pupil Emma who has Down’s Syndrome felt that she wasn’t being given a fair chance by salon owners.

So, with the help of mum Claire, Emma, 16, who became a TV star when she appeared on hit Channel Four show Gogglesprogs, created a post for Facebook calling for anyone in the hair and beauty industry to help her.

And within a few hours, 700 people had responded from all over Scotland.

Samantha Tarana spotted Emma’s post and contacted her to go into her Ayr salon.

Now, Emma is living her dream life as she has a Saturday role within the busy salon.

“She is such a lovely girl and when she came into the salon she fitted in straight away,” said Samantha. “I have a son with additional support needs and I hope when he is older that he is given an opportunity by someone.”

It was a time for more celebrations for Emma who is also gaining work experience at the Tracy Findlay School of Dance in Kilwinning. And it’s even better as she now helps her sister Brooke at the dance school.

The inseparable pair were so popular on Gogglesprogs they were asked to return for a Christmas special.

Emma, who is about to start sixth year at the new Lockhart Campus is looking forward to a busy summer.

“It’s amazing that I can work in the salon, I went in last week and it was brilliant,” beamed Emma.

“I know it will be hard work but it looks like I will learn a lot and I am grateful to everyone who got in touch to help.”

Mum Claire is Emma’s biggest champion, along with sister Brooke, brother Leland and dad Jimmy and she is thrilled about the opportunities that her daughter has.

Claire said: “One of my all time parental wishes for Emma was to be able to drop her off at a work place and wave cheerio and then pick her up and hear all about it.

“Thanks to the support of Tracy at the Dance Depot and Samantha Tarana, I can now pick up a girl who is smiling, chatting away and talking about what she will do the next time she is working.”