&THE TEAM
Educators, mentors, and industry leaders raising standards together.
Odessa Turner
Founder, Visionary, Educator & IQA
With over 17 years shaping higher-level beauty and skincare, Odessa has built a multifaceted career as a Practitioner, Educator in both private and public sectors, BABTAC Judge, CIBTAC International Examiner, and now a Higher Level Beauty Associate with VTCT/iTEC.
Her experience spans clinical practice, holistic therapy, global examining, advanced academic training, including medical professionals expanding into aesthetic skincare. This combination gives her a rare, panoramic understanding of the industry and a clear view of where it’s falling short.
Through her work across clinics, salons, holistic settings, and education, Odessa saw how fragmented the beauty, skin, aesthetic and wellbeing sectors have become. Each part of the industry works in isolation, with little shared knowledge leaving practitioners with a framented perspective when treating clients. This gap highlighted the urgent need for better overlap, clearer standards, and true collaboration.
But it was her work closer to home that revealed the problem no one wanted to talk about.
The industry is saturated with fast-track training and professionals are paying the price.
Across her roles, Odessa repeatedly met newly “qualified” practitioners who lacked the confidence, depth, and practical clarity their certificates promised. Many had been rushed through generic, overcrowded courses or 90% online programmes designed for turnover, not true learning.
They entered the industry underprepared, overwhelmed, and unconfident not because they lacked talent, but because their training failed them.
Odessa spent years mentoring these individuals voluntarily, filling in the gaps left by poor-quality programmes and helping them understand treatment protocols, skin health, and professional decision-making at a safe, ethical level. The pattern became impossible to ignore:
The industry didn’t need another academy. It needed a place built on standards, depth, and genuine confidence and not shortcuts.
This is why BEAUTY & THEORY was created.
Drawing from her First Class Honours background in design, her clinical and holistic practice, and her global examining and training experience, Odessa created BEAUTY & THEORY: a hybrid learning space where education feels aspirational, supportive, and embodies in real professional practice.
BEAUTY & THEORY is not another academy.
It is the response to an industry in need of higher standards and better support.
A place created by someone who has seen every side of the profession, globally, clinically, holistically, academically and knows exactly what needs to change.
BEAUTY & THEORY exists to reset expectations. To rebuild confidence.
And to shape professionals who are truly ready for the work they want to do
VICTORIA HOLMES
Lead Educator & Assessor
"Turning therapists into confident professionals through teaching that sticks."
With over 25 years in therapy, education, and management, Victoria brings deep industry experience and a teaching style that makes learning clear, practical, and confidence-building.
Her blend of real salon practice and a formal teaching degree means she bridges rigorous theory with hands-on relevance, helping learners truly understand, not just remember.
Alongside her educator role, Victoria now supports therapists with realistic social media mentoring. As a busy therapist herself, she knows the pressure of “needing to post” and specialises in giving salons, clinics, and working therapists strategies that actually fit into their day.
Professional, grounded, and always honest, Victoria’s mission is simple:
to help therapists feel capable, confident, and ready for the careers they want in treatment, in business, and online.
WINONA WHITEHEAD
Centre Co-ordinator & HR
"Empowering learners with empathy, clinical professionalism, and structure."
Winona first entered the industry through a fast-track course she did in a gap year - an experience that left her technically qualified but not confident, and heavily reliant on Odessa’s support to fill the gaps.
Determined to understand what her training hadn’t given her, she spent countless hours studying and honing her skills.
This lived experience now fuels her mission: no learner under her care will ever feel the way she once did.
Alongside her role at BEAUTY & THEORY, Winona works tirelessly as a Specialised NHS Sonographer, bringing clinical precision, attention to detail, and a deep sense of professionalism to everything she does.
She leads HR, recruitment, and all learner support, acting as the bridge between students, educators, and the wider team.
Winona ensures every learner feels encouraged, prepared, and fully guided throughout their qualification - with timelines and expectations that feel achievable, not overwhelming.
LINDSEY MCDONALD
Internal Quality Assurer (IQA)
"Protecting the weight of qualifications through rigorous quality assurance."
For two decades, Lindsey has led quality in beauty education. From brand educator to college tutor to on-set technician, she brings vast insight into both practice and assessment. As our IQA, she ensures every qualification we award has credibility and every learner is treated fairly.
