A mother’s petition to ban mandatory beauty treatments in education has gained support from a local MP after her daughter was told she would have to undergo a bikini wax or change colleges. 

Safiayh Mughal’s 16-year-old daughter, Inayah Lynch, was studying Beauty at Barnsley College and was not warned she would have to undergo beauty treatments as part of her course. 

Ms Mughal contacted her local MP, Jade Botterill’s office, who said: “This is a very serious failing by Barnsley College. 

“I think it is entirely reasonable that insisting on breaching someone’s bodily autonomy when they do not consent should not be fundamental to someone studying at college.”

Ms Mughal, a beauty therapist from Huddersfield, said: “Inayah came home very upset, she didn’t want to leave her course but didn’t want the treatment. 

“She’s still a teenager and she’s body conscious, like most teenagers are at that age.”

Ms Mughal took her daughter’s story to TikTok where her video received over two million views. 

“Everyone went nuts, what was overwhelming is the amount of people in my inbox sharing their stories. 

“I have thousands of kids and adults that have done beauty courses and it was still the same rule.”

She added: “We spend our lives warning our kids that no means no for this to be undone when they go into adult education.”

Ms Mughal arranged a meeting with the course tutors and Barnsley College’s Safeguarding Team. 

She said: “They more or less said in the meeting that all the kids have to have treatments, and that it’s something the college has always done. 

“Their argument was that students have to feel the treatment to learn the treatment but I am a beauty therapist trainer myself and I know that’s not true.”

Her daughter left Barnsley College and is now enrolled in a new beauty course at Huddersfield College. 

Ms Mughal said: “It knocked my daughter’s confidence massively, she has had to go to a college where everyone has already started the course and already has friends. 

“She has been made to think that if she doesn’t do something she’s not good enough for a course.” 

Barnsley College did not respond to our request for comment. 

David Akeroyd, Principal and CEO of Barnsley College, told The Mirror: “Following a thorough review of the video circulating on social media, we can confirm that there are no safeguarding concerns. We want to assure all parents and stakeholders that safeguarding remains our top priority. We maintain an open line of communication with the parent involved to ensure clarity and continued support. The safety and well-being of our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of learning and care.”

Barnsley College has now changed their policy regarding mandatory beauty treatments, giving students the right to refuse treatments and making it necessary for students to provide consent prior to any treatment. 

Ms Mughal now wants to make this policy mandatory for all colleges across the UK and has launched a petition to change this.