A woman from East Belfast who was shot nine times and “left for dead” has now set up a beauty training salon to help other women follow their dreams.
Jemma McGrath was attacked in September 2013 and underwent one of the longest operations ever carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. She was left with a broken arm, broken leg, and pins and screws holding her body together.
The now 36-year-old admitted to using drugs in her youth, and previously said she let her life spiral out of control after her dad’s death. After the shooting, she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder which gave her such severe panic attacks she thought she was dying.
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Jemma had to rebuild everything from the ground up, including having to learn how to walk again after being in a wheelchair for months. Now, she is working hard to empower young women and give them a chance to become self-employed through her new training beauty salon on the Shankill Road, Belfast Brows & Lips.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Jemma reflected on being shot 13 years ago, as well how it led to her turning her life around.
She said: “In 2013 I was shot nine times, which left me fighting for my life. I had to learn to walk again, with pins and bolts holding my whole body together, and scars from head to toe.
“For other people that would probably be the end of the road – but for me it was just the beginning. It gave me the determination to create the life I have today.
“I was in a wheelchair for three months and then obviously the mental side of recovery was tough too, but I’ve always been very positive and determined. If I’m really honest with you, I don’t know I would have had the determination that I’ve got today if that hadn’t happened.
“I’m actually a bit emotional when I look back because I literally feel like I’ve created the life I want, where I’ll jump out of bed an hour early for work. After all the hard work, stress, and everything I’ve been through it feels amazing to get to this stage.”
In 2018, Jemma won the Prince’s Trust award for the most innovative business in Northern Ireland and since then has worked with groups such as the Training for Women Newtork (TWN) and the Women Involved in Community Transformation programme.
Through this, she was put through qualifications to be able to teach others the beauty treatments she is passionate about. In the years since, she has taught 130 girls in brows and other treatments, and will soon be offering regulated courses in aesthetics and diplomas in semi-permanent makeup.
Jemma said she is delighted to be able to give back to the community, and help get women onto a good path, working towards being their own bosses.
“It’s amazing so see the growth and how it’s afecting them, they’re all so excited to come to work. They said they couldn’t wait for the weekend to end so they could come in, and if I’m honest I was exactly the same. It’s amazing what we’re doing here,” she added.
“Seeing their passion and their work improve so much, and knowing it was me who trained them, it’s an amazing feeling, you can’t describe it. Just to be able to create this place now where we can all come and learn and grow together as a team, it’s amazing.
“I feel I have the right girls around me, especially when we’re getting started. They’re all so driven and excited to see what can come out of this.
“Whenever I set out I always said I wanted to take women down a different road to what I took, and I feel like I’ve done that. It’s about giving different opportunities so they can grow their own businesses. We’re all about empowering young women here.”
Offering advice to anyone who finds themself in a difficult position, similar to Jemma’s years ago, she said: “If I can build this from where I’ve started, there’s nothing that can stop you as long as you really want it. With a bit of faith, a lot of hard work, you can keep going – never stop and it’ll happen.”
Video by Belfast Live videographer Justin Kernoghan.
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