Shamini set for finals of Miss Bikini Ireland
As we head into the summer months and bikini season, Mullingar’s Shamini McDonnell is more than ready for not just the beach, but for the finals of Miss Bikini Ireland, which take place in May.
Shamini is a former student of Loreto College, Mullingar, and Mullingar Community College, later progressing to Maynooth, where she hopes to complete a degree in both Irish and English to become a secondary school teacher.
Modelling is something new for Shamini, but her enthusiasm for the competition is a driving force for her.
“I have always been interested in modelling, and it was always an aspiration of mine but I never had the confidence to proceed with it. However, my older sister, Caitriona Breheny, became a finalist last year, and I really looked up to how well she did in the competition and how it brought out so much confidence within her,” she said.
“At first, my confidence and self esteem was quite low and I was quite nervous when I attended my first workshop, but all the girls were so amazing and welcoming and it was great to be in with such a lovely group of girls who all share the same interest in the modelling aspect of it all.
“I have met so many new people from it and I hope to continue meeting new people and making new friends.”
Her first photoshoot motivated her to keep going with modelling because it was “such an amazing experience”, she said.
“I never thought I’d see myself so confident in front of the camera. I feel as though this competition alone has brought out a confidence in me that I could only have dreamed of having in the past,” she said.
Shamini has been trying “extremely hard” to get bikini-ready. She’s been following a healthy diet and going to the gym five days a week to get in shape for the competition.
“I have the biggest sweet tooth ever, so I would say that the diet is definitely the hardest part,” she laughed.
Her sponsor, Allure by Chloe Crichton is keeping her looking my best for the competition, she said, ensuring her nails, makeup and spray tan are all ready.
The competition consists of numerous workshops, the first of which allowed each of the models to meet, register for the competition and get photos taken for their portfolios.
“It gives all the girls a great opportunity to get to know each-other, and this helps bring out everybody’s confidence as everyone’s helping each other out and giving the best advice,” said Shamini.
And the competition has really increased her confidence, which she said was always quite low. But, after a difficult 2024, she told herself 2025 would be the year she moved forward.
“I had quite a rough year in 2024, losing both my biological father, and my brother and I hit a rough patch. However, once the clock hit 12 midnight, and 2025 hit I wasn’t going to let my past troubles stop me from moving forward,” she said.
“I decided to put myself out there, and work on myself and I applied for Miss Bikini Ireland. It was both the best and scariest decision I have ever made.”
And she advises anyone who is considering it to “just go for it”, because it will help you “to flourish in all aspects”.
“You meet so many amazing people, and really get your name out there. If at all you want to be in the modelling industry this is the competition for you. It is not just an amazing opportunity but such a great experience to have and to be a part of,” she said.
“It’s not all about the win but the opportunity and experience you get out of it, and that has been the biggest thing for me. You literally feel like a winner by just being part of something as incredible as this.”