To Blue Steel or not to Blue Steel, that is the question.

So many of you may already know that I took part in this years UCC's Next Top Model. Sadly I did not win but I did learn a lot and more importantly I laughed a lot during my time as a contestant.

All of us at the final!

First off before anyone asks no it was nothing like the reality show America's Next Top Model. We did not get cooped up under one roof or have extreme "edgy" hair cuts inflicted upon us, there was no intense weekly rounds where one of us was sent packing for smiling with our eyes like this and not like this. (After watching 12 variations of seasons I still do not know what our girl Tyra means!) My experience in the competition, organised by Lockdown Models and the UCC Fashion Society , was to sum up in a word: fun.

I mean what's not to like?! Not only was everyone involved extremely nice, some down right hilarious, but also within every photo-shoot I was transformed into a completely different character.  Upstyle Junkie beautifully transformed my face and the crew at Origin Hair Design  gave me some of the most amazing and creative hairstyles I never would have imagined having. As a girl with hair straighter and flatter than a...well lets say ruler, the Afro they created for the punk rock shoot was by far my favourite! I have never had so much volume in my life!

Punk Rock shoot in the Pavillion

The photographer Miki Barlok created some truly amazing themes for our photo shoots and the settings were fantastic. He was a great teacher and really set the scene for the moments we were to portray during the shoots. The only problem was getting out of the mindset and returning back to college and the dreary library after each time! Adding in the acting and catwalk workshops the whole experience was a very bright and cheery break from the never ending mountain of final year projects!

Vintage shoot with Miss Daisy Blue

Now onto the amazing clothes. Throughout the photo-shoots we had some great exposure to many beautiful clothing labels, such as Miss Daisy Blue, and some truly brilliant stylists. However, nothing could have prepared me for the mind blowingly exquisite outfits that were provided for us at the final on Thursday night. They were really out of this world and what was such a lovely surprise was that they were all from local clothes shops here in Cork. I have always been a massive fan of many of those involved, having spent many hours wandering around Amity, Turquoise Flamingo and Miss Daisy Blue. I now look forward to adding Vanilla Boutique and Elsa& Gogo Boutique to my list of shopping haunts!

One of the many amazing dresses from Turquoise Flamingo

The final for the competition flew by in a haze of excitement and nerves. The nerves mainly caused by a certain lovely person asking "But Sandra are you not afraid you'll be the girl that trips and falls on the catwalk that everyone pities?!"  Images of me becoming  like Carrie Bradshaw a.k.a. catwalk roadkill (but without the witty or intelligent hindsight) and my bigger fear not being able to get back up in one go upon falling, kept flashing across my mind. Thankfully my visions did not come true!

I still cannot believe it's all over and I run the risk of people running away from me should I keep repeating my stories over and over again. So I guess this is what this post is: A goodbye to a fantastic experience with many brilliant and amazing people who made the whole competition better than I could have ever imagined. The competition may be over, but hopefully I will have the opportunity  to work (and of course socialize) with the amazing winner Aishling Kearney; the gang that entered with me; and the organizers in the future.

P.S.: I didn't pull the blue steel.

One minute, just let me put on my face...

Make- Up means something to almost all females. Some cannot leave the house without it, others save it for special occasions, most use it to cover up lack of sleep and the mother of all hangovers. One thing is for sure no one can deny the transformation that it can give us. It helps hide our least favourite parts and highlight our best. It's a girl's best friends (most of the time) and I'm pretty sure if guyliner and all other male make-up products were widely accepted the majority of men would jump on board and use it just as much too, if not more.

Bye bye hangover!

Many misconceptions have been formed by many judgmental individuals about females who wear make up on a regular basis. Murmurs of low self-esteem and references to them not being comfortable in their own skin have been made time and time again. However, couldn't that be said about anything? Why not judge someone's self esteem and confidence by the way one dresses; whether they have tattoos or piercings; if they use hair dye or their style haircut as well?  Really though these are all ways that we define ourselves, how we express who we are to the outside world and make that first impression we want to make.
It seems we cannot win because even by not doing these things we are saying something. Like it or not we are making a statement by projecting this image to the world. Women with no make-up are showing that they are naturally fresh faced and actually don't need it, maybe screaming to the world: Look at my really great genes (or maybe they bought a new pair of really great jeans and want all the focus on that, who knows!). Maybe subconsciously some want to portray to everyone that they are too busy (Exam face anyone?) or too serious to have time to put on makeup.

Serious case of exam face!

In first and second year of college we learnt about the human race's quest to achieve their aspirational self. We were taught that they try to bridge the gap between their actual self and their aspirational self through their hobbies, maybe they paint or play instruments; the sports they play, are you a strong rugby manly man or a graceful swimmer? The course they attend; the job they work; their career, or lack of; the place they live in or they car the drive; the people they hang out with or avoid and mock; or the charity work they do- the list is long. All of these things are seen as acceptable and standard ways that we all define ourselves by. Yet young women are criticised, mostly by the elders and sometimes their peers, for wearing make-up. They are told they look like a slapper, a clown or a Goth. That they look much nicer without that "awful stuff caked on their face" and that "people will know that they are lacking in self-confidence." Because being told that you look rubbish is going to do wonders for your self-belief.

A Girl's Best friend?

Is this not another form of self-expression, a way of finding yourself by experimenting with looks? Granted NOBODYS make up when they begin is perfect but that is how we learn. We make mistakes, we practice and 90% of the time we improve...maybe after several years. Also don't worry, the shameful photographs of the past that lurk in the darkness of our sock drawer will remind us if we are to forget!

Yup, pretty much sums it up...

Sure it is said that we have to love ourselves if we are to expect anyone to love us. I do believe that this is true. However, in my experience I find that make-up allows a lot of people to be more themself than when they go shiny barefaced. Some might call it wearing a mask, that those that do this are just hiding their true self from the world. That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion I actually find it allows me to match my inside self to my outside self and in fact I am a lot more forthright when I "have my face on" as some say. It's more about accepting yourself on the inside and then expressing this wonderful person you are on the outside. Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just a little crazy.


I think Make-up is fantastic. It's great to be able to have a creative outlet every day. Ever since I picked up an eyeliner pencil age 11 and drew those fantastically grungy panda circles, that stayed with me until age 16 , I knew I had found a new canvas that I could take with me everywhere -how fun!(Embarrassing photos remain on Bebo...) I'm sure I'm not alone in this, great satisfaction can be had trying out or perfecting new looks or teaming up with your friends to transform your surprisingly willing male flatmate into a drag queen. (Note: Photos of said incident are available on Facebook for those interested!) Endless opportunities are to be had!

I'm of the opinion that once you are happy with yourself on the inside and have the self-confidence to be the best you that you can be then it does not matter what you look like on the outside. Okay I'm aware that this may sound a little like an "after school special" but it has been playing on my mind ever since I witnessed a mother chastise and almost sneer at her very impressionable young teenage daughter for wearing make-up saying she'll "NEVER get a man looking like that with all that crap on her face!" Ironically the mother had make-up on. So I guess in conclusion what I am saying is maybe the answer is to guide people and not put them down or failing that actually leave them to their own devices because like opinions, bodies and lives it's theirs and so it's that persons choice and only theirs.

Failing that or for some light relief, take some tips from this girl on how to trick people into thinking you're really good looking!