The Real Elle Woods at the Glamorous Launch Event for The Therapie Miss Northern Ireland Contest 2015!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Pictured at the Launch of the Therapie Miss Northern Ireland 2015 Contest are Former Miss Northern Ireland Winners ranging from 1965 through to 2014 (from left to right) Elizabeth Stanfield, Zoe Salmon, Meagan Green, Lucy Evangelista, Rebekah Shirley Miss Northern Ireland 2014, Alison Clarke, MD ACA Models, Catherin Jennings, Joanne Salley, Angela Mountstephens, Caroline Solomon.
The start of a new year brings with it many new beginnings, and with it the search for this year's Miss Northern Ireland!
For me the contest has always held a special place in my heart as my cousin Richard is married to a former Miss Northern Ireland and I have very fond memories of us all cheering Louisa-Jane on as she took the coveted Miss NI crown all those years ago! The competition has always been such an amazing springboard for many women who have went on to forge hugely successful careers and since then I look forward to every year to see who will be crowned this year's winner!
I was therefore extremely excited when I received my invitation to join everyone at the glamorous launch of the 60th Therapie Miss Northern Ireland 2015 contest at the iconic Europa Hotel Belfast! Not only was it THE perfect opportunity to meet some of this year's hopefuls, but I was also able to catch up with so many of my friends and former Miss Northern Ireland winners!
The launch is always a super glam affair (click HERE to read more about last yr's exciting launch at the SS Nomadic!) and I couldn't wait to get my glam on and join fellow guests with event organiser Alison Clarke to officially launch the 2015 Therapie Miss Northern Ireland contest!
Myself arriving at the launch event!
The contest which is now in its 29th year, is organised by ACA Models, however it's roots go back much further, 60 years to be exact when the late Mr. Eric Morley first ran Miss Ireland in the Mecca ballroom, Belfast after the end of World War II!
It was lovely catching up with the current Miss Northern Ireland, Rebekah Shirley who has done an incredible job representing us during her reign as the current Miss Northern Ireland. I loved hearing about all the amazing experiences she has had over this past year, especially her adventures at the Miss World Contest!
Catching up with Rebekah over coffee at the launch!
Myself with current Miss Northern Ireland Rebekah Shirley, in love with her red dress from Blush Boutique!
Current title holder Rebekah Shirley, 19, from Ballymoney, said:
“It was an honour to be crowned Miss Northern Ireland 2014. I’ve had the best year of my life representing Northern Ireland at charity and numerous events throughout 2014.
The most special of which was the Miss World Final in London where I had an unbelievable time, I learnt a lot about the other contestants life’s and countries and realized the humungous efforts and lengths that the Miss World family go to help the lives and raise awareness of those less fortunate than ourselves throughout the world.”
Pictured (from left to right) Tracy Gilligan, CEO Therapie Clinic, Rebekah Shirley, Miss Northern Ireland 2014 , Louise Vance, Alison Clarke, MD ACA Models.
Catching up with former Miss Northern Ireland Joanne Salley!
As for this year's contest, well the contest will see hundreds of young ladies compete for the coveted Therapie Miss Northern Ireland title in a series of heats that will take place in venues across the province this Spring, starting on 26th February at 21 Social, Belfast and finishing on 26th April at Betty Blacks, Bangor.
The grand finale will take place on Monday 11th May at the historic Europa Hotel, Belfast. The glittering event will be hosted by former Miss Northern Ireland and television presenter Zoe Salmon and UTV’s Marc Mallet.
Event Director, Alison Clarke said :
“Our contest is all about finding talented young women, who will be judged on their appearance, their presence, self expression, intelligence and poise, together with their ability to represent Northern Ireland on the Miss World stage later this year.
The winner will also be someone who is keen to help and support our Beauty with a Purpose campaign and our strenuous efforts to work closely helping raise awareness and much needed funds for the Northern Ireland and Children’s Hospices. Together with Therapie we aim to find that one young lady with the ‘je ne sais quoi’ attitude and look for 2015.”
Pictured are the hopefuls for this year's Miss Northern Ireland (from left to right) Shannon Webster, Emer Stinson, Lucy McCormack, Leonie Allen, Rebekah Shirley, Miss Northern Ireland 2014, Tracy Gilligan, CEO Therapie Clinic, Mark Shortt, MD Therapie Clinic, Louise McClements, Rebekah Sloane, Catherine McKillop, Ashleigh Woods.
Alison Clarke welcomed 2015 hopefuls and former winners to the launch event, she said: “It was wonderful to launch the contest alongside our new headline sponsor Therapie, which is Ireland's largest laser and skin clinic, providing 5* service at affordable prices.
Therapie has clinics throughout the Province, in Newry, Derry/ Londonderry, Enniskillen and of course Belfast and we have selected top venues in these town and cities to run heats in as well as in all other corners of the country.
Pictured (from left to right) Pete Snodden, Compere at 21 Social Heat, Tracy Gilligan, CEO Therapie Clinic, Alison Clarke, MD ACA Models, Darren Clarke.
When it came to choosing what I was going to wear to such a glamorous event I decided to fully embrace this season's obsession with bold stripes by wearing one of my all time favourite bandage body con dresses from Karen Millen! With it's intricate chris cross "macrame' detailing on the neckline, and amazing fit it's a dress I find myself constantly coming back to again and again! I carried through the stripe feel with my bold "Bayswater" cuff from Mulberry and brought out the mink colour hues in the dress with my Jasper Conran leather tote! Of course when you're around lots of tall models heels are a must and I finished off my look with a pair of skyscraper lace platform peep toe sandals! (a must when you are as petite as myself!)
Macrame bandage knit dress (KL228) Karen Millen, Mulberry "Bayswater" suede cuff, leather tote bag by Jasper Conran & Lace appliqué platform peep toe sandals from New Look.
Event organisers are seeking ambitious young women aged between 17 and 24 years old from all parts of Northern Ireland to compete for the crown in May. Entrants can enter online at www.missnorthernireland.co.uk and also online at www.therapie.com.
OR they can send a photograph with their name and address,telephone number to the Therapie Miss Northern Ireland Contest, 381 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 5DT.
For further information and a full list of heats and prizes, please visit www.missnorthernireland.co.uk
Heats 2015 (13 in total, 2 girls from each heat will be chosen to take part in the final, total 26 girls)
• Thursday 26th February - 21 Social, Belfast
• Sunday 1st March - Spice, Templepatrick
• Thursday 5th March - Icon, L'Derry
• Saturday 7th March - The Wallace, Lisburn
• Thursday 12th March - Gillies Bar @ Galgorm, Ballymena
• Sunday 22nd March - Sally's, Omagh
• Thursday 26th March - Jazzey's, Enniskillen
• Saturday 28th March - The Coach, Banbridge
• Friday 10th April - McAleers, Dungannon
• Tuesday 14th April - Horatio Todd's, Belfast
• Saturday 18th April - Sense, Cookstown
• Thursday 23rd April - Secrets, Magherafelt
• Sunday 26th April - Betty Blacks Bangor
A massive thank you to Victoria Withers for the press release and all relevant photography. All photographs by Brendan Gallagher.
