Miss Ireland 2012

 

Gala: 1. Jeanelle Kaste and Virginia Macari; 2. Sinead Desmond and Ray Shah; 3. Shane O’Sullivan and Amanda Brunker.  (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Ireland’s most talented and glamorous girls took to the catwalk for the final of Miss ireland 2012 in Dublin’s Ballsbridge Hotel for a gala hosted by TV3’s Sinead Desmond and radio presenter Ray Shah.

The ceremony has become one of the most anticipated events of the year with a star studded guest list and judging panel of household names.  From London was celebrity hair stylist James Brown, he was joined by Miss Ireland Emma Waldron, Dublin GAA player Eamon Fennell, IMAGE editor Melanie Morris, beauty guru Triona McCarthy and TV3 presenter Elaine Crowley.

After dinner and drinks guests were treated to highly choreographed show with performances by up and coming Irish talent Kate Gilmore, Allanna Hennessey, Nikki Sheridan and The Fibbs.  Designer Virginia Macari showed her new swimwear range for the first time at the pageant too. 

On the evening the crown was initially won by Miss Mayo, Maire Hughes but she was later disqualified due to her age.  Ireland will now be represented by Rebecca Maguire of Belfast.

Miss Ireland has always been the most coveted crown in Ireland and former Miss Irelands have enjoyed hugely successful careers in modeling, entertainment, TV presenting, acting and business.  Former Miss Irelands such as, Siobhan McClafferty, Olivia Tracey, Emma Waldron and Andrea Roche made it to the top ten finalists in Miss World during their respective reign and of course Rosanna Davison scooped the Miss World title in 2003. 

Miss Ireland

Don’t Miss it: 1. Lisa Robertson and Ciara Kelly; 2. Declan Leavy and Brian Healy; 3. Karen McEvoy and Elaine Crowley. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Bucks Townhouse played host to the launch of The Valera Miss Ireland 2012, where a bevy of Ireland’s most beautiful ladies stepped out for the first time as finalists. This year’s final takes place at The Berkley Court this Saturday night and will be presented by Sinead Desmond and Ray Shah.

One lucky girl will take over the crown from 2011 winner Holly Carpenter and will go forward to represent Ireland at Miss World  2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.  Previous Miss Ireland Winners include Siobhan McClafferty, Olivia Tracey, Emma Waldron and Andrea Roche as well as Rosanna Davison who went on to win the title of Miss World in 2003.

Face for the Race

At Club 92: 1. Mark Nagle & Rebecca Gavett; 2. Rozanna Purcell & Daniella Moyles; 3. Sarah Houlden, Emma McMullen & Sarah Fennessy. (Pix. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall)


The search has been launched to find the face of Bavaria City Racing Dublin, which takes place on the 3rd June, 2012 and will bring F1, WRC, Superbikes, Supercars and Drifters on to the streets of Dublin for a spectacular one day exhibition of the world of motorsport.

The Bavaria Models are the official hostesses of the Bavaria City Racing event and are charged with looking after the likes of Jenson Button and the rest of the stars of international motorsport.

The winner of the national model search, in association with the Irish Sun newspaper, will be named the Irish Bavaria City Racing Model for 2012, receive a modeling contract, a makeover and a car! Entry closes very soon, check out the Sun's FB page for more details.

RCC Fashion Lunch

Charity Queens: 1. Lisa Murphy & Miss Candy; 2. Mary Coffey & Jenny Maughan; 3. Grainne Emily Chambers & Laura O’Brien. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


A 1968 pink Cadillac convertible transported musical theatre star Rebecca Storm and models Chloe and Michelle in style to the Westbury Hotel where the 16th International Fashion Lunch in aid of the Rape Crisis Centre took place last week.

The lunch was hosted by author Amanda Brunker and Miss Candy and featured a special preview of the new collection by Irish designer Dawn Fitzgerald. Entertainment on the day was provided by the aforementioned Rebecca Storm and singer/song writer Paul Harrington. Guests included Gerald Kean and Lisa Murphy, Rosanna Davison, Mr. World Kamal Ibrahim, PR guru Rebecca Burrell and RTE’s Pamela Flood.

Cat Walk to Kilimanjaro

Model Mountain: 1. Elaine Butler Doolan & Nigel Doolan; 2. Roz Purcell, Lynne Kelly & Louise Johnston; 3. Sinead Brady and Ray Egan. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Copan Cafe Bar in Rathmines played host to a number of Ireland’s favourite models as they got together for the Catwalk to Copan charity fundraiser in aid of the Make a Wish Foundation, as part of the TV3 documentary "Cat Walk to Kilimanjaro".

The programme will see some of Ireland's well known models climbing Kilimanjaro ... a ratings winner no doubt. The cocktail reception and fashion show on the night was attended by Roz Purcell, Lynne Kelly and Georgia Salpa amongst others.

Miss Ireland 2011

Long live the Miss: Manners Oshafi & Emma Waldron; 2. Sophie Anderton & winner Holly Carpenter; 3. Elaine Butler Doolin, Laura Bermingham & Debbie O’Donnell. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Miss University Holly Carpenter was crowned Miss Ireland 2011 in association with Aspire (it’s a calorie burning soft drink, dontcha know) at a gala ceremony. Holly, who was chosen by the After Dark team, is no stranger to the social scene and indeed is a granddaughter of the late gossip columnist Terry Keane.

First runner up was Rebecca Maguire and second runner up was Aisling Alcock. The sparkling highly choreographed show featured stunning fashion showcases and an eclectic mix of music and entertainment. The event was an impressive production with celebrity hosts Sinead Desmond from TV3s Ireland AM and Q102’s Ray Shah.

Heats ran all over the country to find contestants from each county with beauty, poise and personality to take part in the forthcoming Miss Ireland 2011 competition. Miss Ireland 2011 will then go on to represent Ireland in the Miss World Pageant which takes place in London on November 8th.

Guests on the night included Miss Ireland 2010 Emma Waldron, new band Element just back from XFactor UK, Celia Holman Lee, Cathy O Connor, models Tiffany Stanley, Hazel O’Sullivan and Nadia Forde, TV3 hosts Alan Hughes and Andrea Hayes on her first outing since becoming a new mum and her husband Dave Torpey.

Don't Miss it

Pageantry: 1. Sarah Morrissey & Michelle McGrath; 2. Emma Cunningham, Brendan Scully and Hannah Cunningham; 3. Mickey Harte and Tiffaney Stanley. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)


The official launch of Miss Ireland 2011 took place at Bucks New Townhouse recently where details of this year’s contest were announced. The heat is on as all over the country the lucky finalists are being chosen and only the best with beauty, poise and personality earn a place in the grand finale on 13 August.

The event, hosted by the calorie burning soft drink Aspire, unveiled the first of the contestants through to the final and this year’s judging panel which includes former Miss Ireland Sarah Morrissey, trainer to the stars Paul Byrne, Ireland’s first top model and beauty expert Laura Birmingham, TV3’s Elaine Crowley, Celebrity Salon’s Elaine Butler-Doolin, Aspire drinks MD Neil Blewitt with more names yet to be announced.

The winner of Miss Ireland 2011 will receive a lucrative modeling contract and a host of prizes including jewelry, gowns, a professional photo shoot, beauty and hair products from official partners Karora Tan, Ebano Hair Salon and Easilocks, Isadora Makeup and Debenhams. Miss Ireland 2011 will also get the use of a brand new SEAT car for the year of her reign.

Irish eyes have their sights set on the ultimate prize this year as the celebrated Miss World pageant returns to the United Kingdom (where it was first staged in 1951) to celebrate 60 years of sparkling shows. Ireland has always been a force to be reckoned with on the world stage but this year, as the competition moves back to our nearest neighbor with the biggest show since its inception, the spotlight shines even brighter.

Gee Whizz

(Pix. Brian McEvoy)

All White: 1. Alannah McGurk; 2. Emily McKeogh & Sam Homan; 3. Cici Cavanagh.

Party people descended on Vanilla Nightclub in Donnybrook for the final of Miss Whizzer Whitening Strips 2011. No, it wasn’t a striptease contest but rather the chance for one lucky girl to move one step closer to a coveted place in this year’s Miss Universe Ireland.

After a drinks reception, the guest judges, publisher Michael O’Doherty, Fade Street’s Louise Johnston and the ever stylish Michelle McGrath, put the contestants through their paces in formalwear, swimwear (OK, so there was some stripping) and Q&A rounds. As the evening came to a close, the dynamic MC duo of RTE’s Daniella Moyles and Asset’s Claire Moore announced that gorgeous Trinity student Dervla Louli was the overall winner.

Along with the prestige of winning entry to the Miss Universe Ireland heats which take place in June, Dervla also won a fantastic prize package including full sponsorship of all clothes, hair and beauty treatments needed to represent Whizzer in the competition as well as a European city break for two. She’ll definitely have the brightest smile, that’s for sure.