A former hair and beauty student from University College Birmingham who was lucky enough to meet a teenage Beyoncé has defied the challenges of Covid-19 to open her own salon in the heart of the UK’s second city – despite living 4,000 miles away in Atlanta.   

Born-and-bred Brummie Janet Nelson, whose first salon was visited in 1998 by a relatively unknown “new girl group” called Destiny’s Child, moved to the US 15 years ago. But she had always dreamed of her own business back home again one day. 

And with the help of her two Birmingham-based brothers, this is exactly what she has done, cutting the ribbon to Mary Jay’s Hair & Beauty – named after her beloved grandma – in the Minories shopping centre this month. 

Specialising in extensions and braids and with a retail maintenance section with products brought in from Atlanta, Janet hopes to bring a taste of Georgia to the city. 

And she has even recruited another University College Birmingham alumna to do beauty treatments, including microblading and eyelash extensions.  

“It was in 2019 that I decided I really wanted to set up a salon back home,” said Janet, who lives with her seven-year-old son in Atlanta. “We had literally got the ball rolling when Covid hit.

“But I wouldn’t give up. We found this beautiful space and this year we made it happen. We had some master stylists fly in from Atlanta to the launch too. It was definitely a special occasion.” 

Janet opened her first salon in Birmingham in 1997.  

Cutting and styling hair for the community and celebrities, including the young daughter of the late footballer Ugo Ehiogu – who played for Aston Villa and England – she also had the visit of a lifetime during this era. 

“I was approached by a supplier in London who was looking for a location to hold a Proline hair care promotional event,” said Janet. 

“They were going to bring a new young girl group who were performing in the city that evening to give out some merchandise and copies of their CD for their newly-released song, No No No. 

“Lo and behold, when the vehicle pulled up, it was none other than the original members of Destiny's Child. Beyoncé, Kelly, LaTavia and Letoya. And Beyoncé's mum, Miss Tina. 

“They spent the rest of the afternoon at the salon signing autographs and giving out merchandise before going on to perform at their show. Now I think about it, it was incredible.”