Elaine tipped for success in curvy model search

Elaine, a qualified beauty therapist who works as a cook in Newell Stores, is among 14 model hopefuls from across Ireland who have qualified for the final of the Tempted Boutique Model Search competition, which could launch the career of Ireland’s next top curvy model.

The final entitled ‘A Night at The Movies’ will be presented by Vicki Mooney, Ireland’s top curvy model and author on Sunday 12 May in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northwood in Santry.

Competition judges are the leading fashion stylist Cathy O’Connor, curvy model Vicki Mooney, photographer Maria McGrail, and Rosemary Kearns, owner of the Tempted fashion chain, who have selected their 14 finalists from an entry of hundreds of ‘size 16 plus’ women.

Tempted Boutique is one of the few Irish stores selling top fashion in curvy sizes 16 to 28, and Rosemary Kearns launched her search for a real woman to model the stores’ 2013 summer collection, last March.

“We know there are lots of gorgeous curvy women out there, because we see them every day in our stores, but we didn’t realise what a fantastic response we would get to the competition”, said Rosemary.

“Just like everyone else, curvy women look amazing when they have some great fashion design and good styling advice, so we are hugely excited at the prospect of dressing our fourteen finalists for their catwalk debut next week in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.”

Cork, Dublin, Wicklow, Louth, Meath, Wexford, Waterford, Donegal and Tyrone are all represented in the model search competition, which, the organisers hope, could launch the career of Ireland’s next top curvy model.

Last year’s winner, 27 year-old Sinead O’ Brien from Patrickswell in Limerick, went on to be signed as a plus-size model with Andrea Roche’s Dublin modelling agency, and the classically trained soprano now combines modelling with her singing career.

According to celebrity stylist, Cathy O’Connor, the judges were literally overwhelmed by the number and quality of the girls who entered.

“Our only criteria were that all of the entrants must be a size 16 plus, over 18 years of age, and love clothes and fashion as much as we do!”, Cathy explained.

“Entries came from all over the country, and selecting just fourteen to compete in the final was incredibly difficult, as the women were simply stunning.”

Tickets at €10 are now available for the final, which is happening on Sunday 12 May in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Santry, and features exclusive pop-up shops, fashion from Tempted modelled by the gorgeous finalists, dance acts from D2 stage school, music by Sisters Of Sound and an “Everybody Wins” raffle.

Tempted Boutique is donating all of the proceeds from the Model Search Grand Final to the winners’ chosen charity.

Dungannon beauty Elaine has chosen The Cormac Fund, which raises awareness of sudden cardiac death in young people, especially athletes.

Tickets are available by calling 01 831 4293, and by logging on to the website, www.tempted.ie or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/temptedsize16to28