After choosing Miss Ireland- Emma Waldron to be my December Star Of The Month she's been a very busy bee. As well as being nominated for the Most Influential Model In Ireland she's been doing some more smashing fashion shoots and climbing the career ladder. In a special Christmas interview we talk fashion, Christmas pressies and what's next for our beautiful Miss Ireland.
The last few weeks have been tough for everyone across Europe with treacherous road conditions causing lots of problems over the holidays. Although we always wish for a White Christmas, this year everyone wanted it to just go away. Thankfully, Emma says she wasn't badly affected by the weather:
"My Christmas was SO fantastic and not disrupted by the weather at all! I spent the time at home with my family, that is what I love about Christmas."
It's clear that the beauty queen really values family traditions, saying that being with her loved ones is the best thing about Christmas:
"We have so many traditions that my elder brother makes sure we stick to every year! We always go to mass on Christmas Eve so that we can spend Christmas morning in our jammies opening presents with the fire blazing and the Christmas DVD- the one and only Disney Christmas Classics- playing in the background. Then we help my Mom to prepare the meal which consists of Turkey, Ham, Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts (my personal favourite thing about Christmas! I think they're so underrated!! I made a pasta with them the other day and it was yumm!) cranberry sauce and Mom's special gravy and stuffing...Yummie. For desert, pavlova and fruit salad! My Mom's cooking is the best"
And what did Santa get our beautiful Miss Ireland?:
"I was so lucky! I got a lovely Roxy travel bag for when I'm traveling and beautiful earrings! 3 Mobile gave my an iPhone 4. I am literally on it ALL the time!!"
Emma tells me that the one thing she always does during Christmas is help out with St Vincent De Paul. The charity has been close to her heart since the young age of 15, and she is always urging people to help out when they can. Emma says she's so grateful to everyone who volunteered over the holidays:
"There were so many people who got involved this year in helping out the Saint Vincent De Paul and I am so sincerely grateful and thankful to those people because they have changed the lives of people in need. You never know the impact you make on someones life or how a small act of kindness can bring happiness to another. I would like to congratulate and thank everyone who volunteered or gave to the Annual Appeal. I would like to thank The Herald, especially Caitlin Mc Bride who wrote about the different ways to contribute to the Appeal and also shed light to the subject. There are so many caring individuals who have joined the SVP and you have only to look at a centre like Ozanam House (run by the Saint Vincent De Paul) to see the love and hope they bring"
If anyone wants to get involved click here: SVP and you can give the greatest gift ever this Christmas/New Year... your time. The organisation is always looking for volunteers. Emma at Ozanam House
A gift that Miss Ireland is hoping for herself this year is to be awarded the most influential model in Ireland! I congratulate Emma on being nominated and ask: how do you feel you can influence young people?
"Gosh that's a tough one! I would love to encourage young people to work hard and be the best they can be, to be considerate of others and kind to everyone who crosses their path. I would love to inspire others to grasp their dreams, to be giving and to help out with the many different charities all over Ireland. I would love for young people to celebrate their differences, to be accepting of others and to be respectful"
Emma says that on her new website she will have a section dedicated to helping young people with both big and small issues, her aim is to help young people with their problems:
"I would love to reach out to young people and for them to feel that they can ask me anything they might be worried about I would try to answer it as best I can. I will have a section on my new website http://www.emmawaldron.com/ dedicated to trying to help different people with their issues. If anyone would like to contact me you can do so here: emma@emmawaldron.com or my Facebook is Emma Waldron. If you would like your issues to stay between me and you (not to be posted anonymously on my website) just say so."
If Emma wins the competition and is awarded the title of Ireland's Most Influential model, she will get the amazing opportunity of attending Paris Fashion week, how incredible would that be?:
"I would LOVE a chance to go to Paris Fashion Week. It is a dream for me... but I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens!!"
Click here to vote for Emma: VOTE.
She's number 6 on the list and you can vote every 24 hours.Try and share the link with your friends.
Every time I meet with Emma I have to ask her for some fashion tips. The fair-haired Irish beauty always looks so chic, her make-up so natural and her body looks so slim! But during these cold spells how has her skin been holding up?:
"My skin got very bad as a result of the weather! I think in terms of keeping your skin hydrated use a good moisturizing lotion like E45 cream or if you can afford it L'Oreal Absolute Premium DX Dual Pack! But once you use something you should be ok! My hands get chapped too so I use Clarin's Hand Lotion it is the absolute BEST!! I love Aveeno body lotion! For lips Vaseline is just brilliant! There's a new one with aloe vera which is lovely."
Even though we have hated the weather conditions the last few weeks, we can take one good thing from it: Winter Fashion!! It's nice to dress up in hats and gloves, big knitted scarves and long winter coats. Emma says the secret to winter fashion is staying warm:
"Put on those thermals ladies!! I am such a Granny! I have lovely grey vests that keep me warm, I'm such a cold creature so I just layer myself up in Winter! I love Abercrombie/Hollister Vests and stock up every winter!It's great that there are so many choices for woollies this winter such as Zara and Forever 21."
And that's why I love asking Emma Waldron for fashion tips! Those two words 'Forever 21' make my heart pound and my body yearn for some seriously stylish dresses!
Last but not least I had to ask our Miss Ireland what's next for her in 2011. In my December Star Of The Month interview Emma admitted she really wanted to put charities to the forefront and help as many people as possible. That ethos has definitely not changed one bit, it's clear that Emma's role in Ireland, and in life in general, is to help others.As every one's starting to contemplate their New Years resolutions like not to eat chocolate, to give up smoking, to go to the gym, Emma says she wants to work even harder (as if she needs to):
"To visit more schools and youth groups around Ireland to talk to the children and young people. I really want to fulfill all my objections that I had when I won Miss Ireland, that is to try to help the lives of others in whatever way I can. I'm going to work so hard for the rest of the year both in Charity work, my website- www.emmawaldron.com which is going live very soon!- Modeling and TV work."
One of the most important resolutions she has is to live life to the fullest and to have no regrets:
"I want to make the most of this year and not regret anything!"
That's something we should all be agreeing to for 2011. Living each moment with all you've got and not dwelling on regrets. Life should be lived happy people! It's clear Emma Waldron believes that too. Every time I meet with our Miss Ireland I'm feel more and more proud of our ambassador. Through complete chance she's beaten hundreds of women to be crowned our country's most beautiful woman, she's also come 4th in the Miss World pageant and there is still no stopping her.
I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that she will win the prize of Ireland's Most Influential Model and that she will be gracing our TVs and airwaves very soon, becoming a great role model for the young women of Ireland.
Have you seen her full spread with Maggie Red Blog? Check her out here on my December Star Of The Month.
