A MOTHER-OF-TWO from Hutton was unable to pick up a prestigious jewellery award after nearly 30 years in the trade because she had to care for her sick mum.
In the 1980s and 1990s tiara maker Michelle Benson mingled with Bonnie Tyler and Paula Yates, both regulars at Selfridges in Oxford Street, where she learned her trade.
And having since set up on her own under the name Bonita Tiaras, she has grafted tirelessly to turn a profit while at the same time raising two children, and she admits to being "very upset" to miss out on picking up her first ever prize.
The same night of the Essex Wedding Awards, on November 29, her 74-year-old disabled mother, Myra Maynard-Smith, from London, felt poorly.
The pensioner suffers from Behcet's Syndrome – a debilitating condition that causes blood vessels to swell – and can only walk with the help of a frame.
"You have to make these calls in life and do what is right," said 51-year-old Michelle.
But having collected the Bridal Tiaras And Accessories Award soon afterwards, tears of pride began to flow.
"It represents all the years I have worked really hard, all the years building my name," Michelle said.
"Starting off is really tough, you have to start from scratch, but if your work is that good then people begin to talk about you."
As a child, Michelle quickly developed a knack for fixing things, she hated to see anything broken around the house.
Having, much later, offered to work for nothing at Selfridges, on a promise that she could save them cash by fixing broken jewellery stock which could then be displayed, she was right and landed a job at the store with French jeweller Adrien Mann.
She learned her trade direct from owner Mrs Mann, who she described as "the master".
She said: "She told me 'you have what they call a spark' and that is why she took me under her wing and we went from there."
Under Mrs Mann, who was renowned for serving the rich and famous, she learned the techniques of rethreading, stone-setting, shortening and lengthening and how to repair anything.
Those eight years at the department stores, latterly running three in-store concessions under the Mann name, set Michelle up to work on her own.
Having moved from London to Brentwood in 1996, she decided to convert the garage at her house in Newlands Close, Hutton, and become the town's only hand-made tiara maker.
She now provides Swarovski crystal-encrusted tiaras, cocktail hats and fascinators for around 40 weddings a year.
Clients also place orders for school proms, Christenings and days out at Ascot, and she offers any style from contemporary to vintage.
To find out more about Michelle's business log on to www.bonita-tiaras.co.uk/index.html
