'Winning Glow Up was a pinch me moment'

The winner of the latest series of BBC Three's Glow Up has said his victory was a "pinch me moment" and he was "still realising it happened".

Jake Moran, 20, from Rotherham, was crowned series seven champion after going head-to-head with nine other aspiring make-up artists over eight weeks.

Jake, who works at a makeup counter in Boots at Sheffield's Meadowhall shopping centre, said: "I feel very proud of myself that I've been able to achieve such a big thing at such a young age."

He said that his win had given him confidence and he now believed his "foot is on the first step" of a professional career in the industry.

Jake, who began doing make-up aged 13, said he "couldn't be more thankful for the experience" on Glow Up.

"It's a great start to your 20s, isn't it?" he said.

"I feel very proud of myself that I've been able to achieve such a big thing at such a young age."

Jake said the show had seen him very much "chucking myself in at the deep end" and "learning things as I was going".

He admitted that at no point during the show did he think he would win it.

"I was convinced I was going home every week," he laughed.

Jake explained that he hoped his win would also serve to help other people "who had the same struggles I've had".

"Being a neurodivergent person, I knew that speaking about that would help other people who would watch the show - it would give them confidence," he said.

"I've received hundreds of messages from people saying it had helped their autistic kid and autistic adults."

Jake, whose mum died shortly after filming finished in February, also said that it was important he spoke on the programme about having been a carer.

"I spoke on the show about being a carer for my mum and I've had a lot of messages from young carers saying they really appreciated that," he said.

"It means to the world to me."

Looking to the future, Jake said that his victory on Glow Up was "complete validation that I can go and chase my dreams now, and just try and have a bit more confidence in myself".

"I have no idea what opportunities are open, until they start coming through - we'll just have to see," he said.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.