AN Essex content creator is building a large online following by teaching motorists how to repair and improve their own cars, while also encouraging more women to enter the motor trade.
Lisa , a qualified paint technician from Wickford known online as@candylisaxo, shares practical tutorials on car paintwork, polishing and bodywork repairs on social media.
Her videos show car owners how to achieve professional-quality results themselves and avoid unnecessary bodyshop costs.
Alongside posting daily tips and demonstrations, she is also developing more in-depth resources for people who want to improve their skills.
“I’ve got a video call helpline and I’m working on a full in-depth polishing guide,” she said. “It’s designed to teach people how to become really good at polishing from start to finish.”
Her path into the industry began unexpectedly.
Before becoming a paint technician, she was working at the Co-op stacking shelves when she came across an apprenticeship opportunity.
“I’ve always loved cars and making them look nice,” she said. “I used to work in the Co-op stacking shelves and then I found this apprenticeship. I was about 22 at the time and I was so happy I got it, especially because I’m a girl and you think no one will want to hire you in that industry.”
Her social media career also started by chance.
After repeatedly being asked how to polish cars properly, she decided to film a simple tutorial.
“I had maybe 100 followers at the time,” she said. “I posted a video about how to polish your car and it got about 400,000 views. Overnight I gained something like 10,000 followers. That’s when I realised I could actually help people with this.”
Since then, her audience has grown rapidly.
“In the last three months it’s blown up like crazy,” she said. “I’m getting about 20,000 to 25,000 followers a month.”
Working in a male-dominated industry has sometimes brought criticism, particularly online.
“There are definitely people who think women can’t do this job because it’s hard work,” she said. “You see comments sometimes like ‘go make me a sandwich’.”
She says she has also faced assumptions about her online presence.
“Sometimes people say things like ‘I expect you to have an OnlyFans account’ or that I’m just begging for likes because of what I’m wearing,” she said. “But that’s not what I’m about. My content is about teaching people real skills.”
Despite the hate received, she hopes her work will encourage more women to consider careers in the industry.
With paintwork you need a really good eye for detail and a light touch when sanding and finishing,” she said. “Anyone can do the job if they’re willing to learn.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand and offer hands-on training for people interested in learning the trade.
“It’s really not as difficult as people think. People just need training,” she said. “I’d love a bigger place so I can run proper training and really help people get to where they want to be.”
For her, the goal is not just fixing cars but building confidence and opening doors for others.
“My whole channel is about helping people,” she said. “I want people to understand how car repairs actually work so they don’t get ripped off, and so they know they’re capable of doing it themselves.”
