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Traitors star back in the salon and faithful to her roots

Grace McGrory,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand
Amanda White,in Hessle
News imageBBC / Amanda White A woman smiling at the camera. She has bright red, shoulder-length hair, half tied back. She wears bright yellow eye shadow, which matches her bright yellow jumper. She is holding a black comb in her hand and silver scissors. Behind her a woman can be seen in a mirror wearing a black barber's apron an sitting in a chair having her hair cut.BBC / Amanda White
Jessie Stride says she cannot keep up with bookings at the hair salon in Hessle

What is it like going back to your day job after starring on the most talked-about TV show of the year? After a "whirlwind" month in the castle, Jessie Stride has picked up her scissors and returned to a hair salon in Hessle, East Yorkshire.

"Would you like it curly or wavy?" Jessie asks her client.

Known for her vibrant outfits and make-up, the 28-year-old is wearing a bright yellow jumper and matching yellow eye shadow.

Her shoulder-length red hair is half tied up with a yellow scrunchie, completing the look.

With a comb in her hand, Jessie reminisces on the experience that has changed her life.

"It's kind of nice being back to normal life, but then I do miss castle life as well, because it was just great."

News imageBBC/PA A woman standing in front of a backdrop of a large gothic castle, with flaming torches lit on the walls. She is wearing a bright orange top and has her red hair tied up in two buns. She is holding her chin with her left hand.BBC/PA
Jessie says she is on a high after leaving the castle

Jessie starred in the fourth series of the BBC show The Traitors, and played the role of a faithful, until she was eliminated in the ninth episode.

"I'm just a normal Hull girl," she says. "Then I've gone on Traitors, which is just really big... it's just gone from nought to 100. I do love it though!

"I'm just on a high and it's just a bit manic really!"

She says despite spending a lot of time in London, people have contacted her asking if they could book a hair appointment with her.

"I just can't get them in," she says. "I'm a busy gal!"

Jessie's client, Eve, is in the chair getting her hair done.

Asked if she looks at Jessie any differently since seeing her on TV, she insists says she does not.

Looking at Jessie's reflection in the mirror, Evie adds: "I feel like when you were on there, it was literally just you. It's just Jessie."

She adds: "I wanted you to win!"

Jessie chuckles and replies: "I did as well!"

News imageStudio Lambert/Euan Cherry/PA Two women captured mid-conversation as they sit in an elaborately decorated room with bright windows behind them. Jade, on the left, has shoulder-length brown hair, which has been gathered back into two space buns to either side of her head. She is wearing a black jumper. Jessie, on the right, is wearing a multi-coloured jumper. She has shoulder-length red hair which has been gathered into two bunches on either side of her head. They are sitting at a table with flowers in the foreground.Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry/PA
Jessie says she would like to do more TV work

Throughout the show, Jessie spoke openly about having a stammer - and said in episode one that having to tell people her name when she first meets them is often "one of the biggest tests".

"It's nice that it's helped people learn more about it... people don't really talk about it," she adds. "It gives other people hope that you don't need to be held back, and that it's just a little part of us. It's great - just own it!"

Looking to the future, Jessie says she has an "open mind".

"I'm doing podcasts, traitor meet-ups, but I'd like to maybe work a little bit less doing hair and, you know, doing more TV.

"I'd love to work with young kids, I'd really love that. I'd love to work more with stammering...

"Coming back to work... I'm just on a big high. Lots of people here have watched The Traitors... it's great, and I just hope that it doesn't end!"

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