Vicki Lord is an award-winning stylist with a string of celebrity names on her long list of clients.

But after a serious road crash 20 years ago she was told by doctors she would have to give up the job she loved.

The 40-year-old mother of two said: “I was involved in a car accident in 1995 and I had to stop hairdressing.

“I had a fractured pelvis and was told I wasn’t allowed to keep doing it.

“I was in hospital for a long time and then afterwards the doctors said I couldn’t stand on my feet for long periods.”

Despite the severe setback, wedding specialist Vicki, of Maritime Avenue, Beltinge, did not give up.

She instead enrolled at art college and took up yoga, which helped renew her strength.

“Having art as a foundation helps with my hairdressing now,” she explained.

“The bride will come to me and I will discuss what her dress is like and I then sketch out the hairstyles that will suit her.

"That way they can create the whole picture instead of turning up and thinking ‘I want that’ and not thinking outside the box.

“Having the art foundation has allowed me to offer a completely different aspect to bridal hair.”

It is not just bridal work that Vicki can show off on her CV.

She also works with celebrities and has styled TV personalities including Strictly Come Dancing star Tess Daly and model Jodie Kidd.

“If I can deal with a bride, I can deal with a celebrity,” Vicki jokes.

“With a bride, they have to feel that special for one day and they want to feel like a celebrity.

“When they are going down the aisle, it’s a bit like going down the red carpet.”

Vicki has also worked with American soul singer Macy Gray.

“She was phenomenal,” Vicki recalled. As I was doing her hair she was on the phone to Stevie Wonder – it was amazing.

“I adore my job – I make these people feel really special.”

Vicki’s formula has proved a success, as she was recently named best wedding hairdresser for Kent and the south east in the National Wedding Industry Awards.

Added to that, she has now been crowned best bridal hairdresser in the Kent Wedding Awards for three straight years.

“I’m now up for the national awards but I don’t find out about that until January,” she said.

“In my mind, to win three years in a row for Kent and to then win for London, that’s enough for me.

“I think I have proved my point!”