What It’s Really Like… To Be An Irish Supermodel

Katherine Gannon is an Galway-based model who has taken part in several national and international pageants. This month, she will head to Fiji to compete in the World Supermodel Pageant and took a few minutes away from her preparation to talk to Her.ie about the challenges of her chosen profession, her work with Irish charities and what it takes to be a successful model.

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Tell us a little about what you do… I'm currently working as a model, with a particular interest in pageants. I was Miss Ireland Galaxy 2012/13 and now I've received my latest title as World Supermodel Ireland, representing the country in the World Supermodel Pageant which takes place in Fiji at the end of this month. Next week, I also begin filming for the US television show Fashion Hero in Cancun. Fashion Hero aims to promote a change in modelling industry standards, such as the size zero debate. This has been the highlight of my year! How did you get to your current position? Through a lot of hard work and by having a thick skin! I have been modelling on and off since I was 13. I always put education first, and worked hard at my degree but I made a lot of social sacrifices in college so I could work on my modelling. When everyone else was having fun on college sessions, I was getting my portfolio in order. I started off doing small pageants such as Miss Galway and hair shows for local salons. I won Face of Galway Shopping Centre when I was 18 and this gave me the confidence to apply for more competitions, as up until then I wasn't the most confident teenager! The win pushed me to strive on and I represented NUI Galway in Miss University the following year. I then worked in all areas of modelling nationally, doing fashion shoots, shows, promotions, press calls, some TV work and music videos. Eventually after many setbacks and more castings than I can remember, I won a national title - Miss Ireland Galaxy in 2012. I represented Ireland in Florida and although I didn't win, it helped massively with getting work at home. This year, I was approached by the World Supermodel Pageant Organisers and here I am as World Supermodel Ireland 2014! The Fashion Hero show had 6,000 applicants and was originally based on a public vote - I was a bit shy about posting this all over social media and didn't tell anyone I applied. The show's sponsors each picked ten contestants to represent their brand in the show and I was picked by Charmant. I was beyond shocked! What is your typical working day? It varies so often but you always have to be ready with make-up (and Sally Hansen!) in your handbag as the best opportunities can be last minute. My typical day would normally start off with a fitness session with my personal trainer Sene. Fitness is so important in the industry, not just for appearance but for energy also. It’s so easy to get run down and overwhelmed with the stress. I have my skincare regime morning and night using Dermologica. Having skills with your own make-up is so important as when the make-up is done in a rush, the photo shoot or press shot is a disaster and you've let the client down. Then there is wardrobe and luckily I have stylists from The Look Academy to prepare my wardrobe in advance for any event I am attending. When preparing for a big international pageant, organising your wardrobe takes months. Depending on what pageant you are doing, you really need to bring a casual and dressy version for every event scheduled for the week. When I went to Miss Galaxy International, my clothes were so wrong! Along with Miss Australia, I really went for the high fashion look and didn’t feel right in comparison with the other contestants - everyone else was engulfed in glamourous sequins! I felt so plain beside them but I learned from my mistakes. Overall, you always have to be prepared, with tan, nails, hair, everything in order and be on call. Why did you choose your current career? I've always wanted to be involved in pageants. I’ve watched Miss World since I knew what a television was and I've been able to pick the winner from a primary school age! I certainly have what could be deemed “'realistic” career goals but modelling has turned out better than I imagined and I'm enjoying every moment of it. What are the biggest challenges you face in your career? The pressure in comparing yourself to other models can be overwhelming to say the least. However, I've been doing it for years and, looking back, the most unhelpful attribute I have ever possessed is my lack of confidence. I have learned, and am still learning, that “fake it till you make it” is the way to go! What are the most rewarding aspects? I don't want to sound like a typical pageant contestant but one of the most rewarding aspects is working with the charities I have the privilege to represent. Namely, Irish Society for Autism. As part of the international Miss Galaxy competition, I represented a number of Irish charities and I contacted the Irish Society for Autism because I've grown up with a brother living with this condition. I got involved with the charity and have hosted events to help raise awareness of the condition in Ireland, with a focus on the students of NUI Galway who lived with this condition. Could you ever see your work taking you away from Ireland? Yes - It's bringing me to Cancun and Fiji this month! I also have an American passport, so I'm open to anything. I love to travel! What is the best piece of advice that you’ve been given? The best advice I've been given is to know that your FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) is the only thing between you and your goal. What has been the one ‘pinch me’ moment of your career so far? This month! I didn't think I would ever be filming in Cancun or representing Ireland in the paradise island of Fiji. I don’t want to wake up! What do you think is the biggest misconception about what you do? That pageant girls are stupid. Yes, there was a video that went viral on YouTube where a Miss Teen America candidate got caught on the hop in her on stage interview but it was a stupid question anyway. She needed to be given a break, we all have those moments. What is the biggest mistake that you think people in your chosen sector make? Models opting for unhealthy weight loss methods. This only leads to long term physical and psychological damage. Luckily the knowledge of fitness and healthy nutrition has come so far worldwide in the past decade and I'm very blessed to have wonderful support in this area. Describe what you want to achieve in your career with one sentence. To have a career that I don't need a holiday from!