Pippa O’Connor has proven with her new sold-out makeup range that she’s much more interested in being the brains behind a brand than the pretty face at a photocall.
It’s just the latest coup for the young mother-of-one, whose lifestyle blog pippa.ie has been getting more and more popular with beauty enthusiasts nationwide.
But she’s not the first famous face to capitalise upon her well-known name with a new career pursuit or product; Pippa, in fairness, is in good company.
From shoes to swimwear to bootcamps and sexy suits, more and more female Irish celebrities have been expanding their empires.
Here, we take a look at a few who have debuted their money-spinning novel ideas (sometimes literally) — as well as one of our ambitious male sporting heroes who’s putting his best foot forward…
Amy Huberman
Best known for: Acting and her high-profile marriage to former Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll.
A native of south Dublin, Amy rose to fame for her role on RTÉ’s The Clinic. She married O’Driscoll in 2010 and they have two children, daughter Sadie and son Billy.
Other pursuits: Writing and designing shoes. Amy — who is well known for her keen wit displayed on Twitter — published her first novel, Hello Heartbreak, in 2009, followed by bestselling I Wished For You in 2012. Not one to sit on her laurels, the stylish actress debuted her Bourbon shoe collection in 2013, which now features more than 40 styles named after Amy’s favourite films. The range has been highly popular with the shoe firm behind Amy’s collection having seen a 29-fold profit increase.
Potential future projects: Amy has now turned her writing skills to a movie screenplay and it’s not hard to imagine her creating a major television series or film. She could also combine her flair for fancy footwear with her husband prowess to create BOD rugby boots. Just try to stop her!
Georgia Salpa
Best known for: Modelling.
Georgia has been modelling since she was a teenager and was a regular on the Irish photocall scene before moving to London and competing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012. She was the third housemate evicted, but her participation on the show — and her half-Greek, half-Irish, Kim Kardashian-esque looks — introduced the Dublin girl to a wider audience. The same year, she ranked 5th in FHM’s 100 sexiest women poll.
Other pursuits: Fake eyelashes and nails. In 2012, Georgia introduced a collection of false eyelashes aimed at giving women a chance to achieve her sultry look. The range included six options and went on sale in Penneys and other stores. She also launched Nails By Georgia, selling packs that contained nail stickers, a nail file and cuticle stick.
Potential future projects: Georgia — now Georgia Penna having married hedge-fund manager Joe Penna in May — could be looking to rebrand. Moving on from nails and lashes, she could begin her own high-end fashion line to reflect her jet-set lifestyle. But with representation in London and Dublin, her modelling work shows no signs of slowing down in the near future.
Kathryn Thomas
Best known for: Television and radio presenting. The Carlow native broke into television in the 1990s co-presenting the youth sports show Rapid. She has gone on to host a range of other favourites such as No Frontiers, Operation Transformation and The Voice.
Other Pursuits: Boot Camp. Kathryn has always been passionate about fitness and exercise, and she has the toned physique to prove it. But this year — perhaps inspired by Operation Transformation — she began a boot camp called Pure Results at Inishbeg Island in Cork for other people hoping to shed the pounds and get in shape. She assembled a team of trainers and nutritionists and says she is looking for a fulltime premise to house the boot camp in the future.
Potential future projects: If Kathryn draws on her experience from hosting other reality shows, perhaps she could expand her business ventures from fitness. After hosting No Frontiers, surely she could open a travel agency. With all her experience on The Voice, how about a singing school? Her Twitter account also touts her love of ‘fine wine and good cheese — and she happens to be dating restaurateur Padraig McLoughlin — so it would be no surprise if Kathryn one day opened up her own eatery.
Rosanna Davison
Best known for: Winning Miss World and being the daughter of Lady In Red singer Chris de Burgh.
The Wicklow beauty won the international competition in 2003 and became a regular on the modelling scene, fronting various campaigns. In 2012 she posed nude for Playboy Germany.
Other pursuits: Nutrition.
Rosanna, who graduated in 2006 from UCD with an arts degree, also has qualifications in nutrition and has her own website, rosannadavisonnutrition.com. She is a vocal proponent of healthy eating and has been vegan for years. On her site, she writes: ‘Since qualifying in 2013, I have been building my experience by working with regular private clients to develop an entire nutrition programme and lifestyle designed to target their specific health and beauty complaints, including hair loss, acne, weight loss and obesity, digestive disfunction (sic), autoimmune disease, infertility, endocrine imbalances and much more.’ She also announced in February that she had signed a publishing deal to write her first cookbook, Eat Yourself Beautiful, released on August 28.
Potential future projects: Given her poise and looks, Rosanna is perfectly placed to host her own cooking show — or even channel. There’s no doubt where the theme song would come from — her father. Rosanna could even don a red apron…
Pippa O’Connor
Known for: Modelling and her marriage to presenter Brian Ormond, Dublin model Pippa O’Connor has been a staple on the commercial modelling scene in Ireland for years. The sister of Irish showjumper Cian O’Connor, Pippa originally wanted to be an actress. She has appeared on reality TV shows including Celebrity Salon, and her wedding was chronicled on an RTÉ programme. It was a star-studded affair, with guests including Robbie Keane and Rosanna Davison. ‘Brippa’, as they were nicknamed, have one child, a son called Ollie.
Other Pursuits: Beauty When pregnant with Ollie in 2013, she began a fashion blog ‘as a hobby,’ she says on her website. It has grown to become hugely popular and encompasses everything from fashion tips to travel and lifestyle. Pippa began hosting Fashion Factory events, ‘girly’ days of fashion and beauty tips held around the country. This month, she launched a makeup palette for Blank Canvas Cosmetics called Pippa, right, which sold out in days.
Potential future projects: Considering the astronomic rise of Pippa’s popularity, there’s no telling where this beauty guru will take her business. Perhaps we’ll see Pippa TV — or at least a YouTube channel. Given the trend of celebs starting their own shoe lines, that’s a definite possibility, and it’s only a matter of time before that morphs into a clothing line. Who knows, perhaps a lifestyle website for young families will crop up — brippa.ie, anyone?
Dawn O’Porter
Best known for: Writing, television, presenting, her marriage to Roscommon funnyman Chris O’Dowd.
Dawn Porter first worked as a writer and journalist before presenting the BBC documentary Super Slim Me and going on to produce other documentaries. In addition to contributing frequently to newspapers and magazines, she also has published two novels with plans to publish two more. She married O’Dowd in 2012 and changed her surname to O’Porter. They welcomed their first child, Art, in January.
Other pursuits: Clothes.
Dawn, who is well-known for her signature bob hairstyle, launched her own clothing line last year. Fittingly, she called it BOB by Dawn Porter. The line includes unique pieces as well as a contemporary collection ‘inspired by Dawn’s favourite finds’.
Potential future projects: Given the hilarious banter she has with O’Dowd it’s not hard to imagine the pair collaborating. After all their combined creativity is off the charts.
Rozanna Purcell
Best known for: Modelling and being Miss Universe Ireland.
Tipperary native Roz was crowned Miss Universe Ireland in 2010 and became the first Irish woman to place in the international competition since 1998, falling within the top ten. She has had a successful modelling career since then; she was signed with Trump Model Management after the pageant and is also represented by Andrea Roche in Ireland. Roz has also participated in various reality shows through the years.
Other pursuits: Nutrition.
Roz has made quite a name for herself with her blog, Natural Born Feeder, which offers healthy food tips and recipes, and launched a range of gluten-free pancakes, protein balls, vegan waffles and vegan hot chocolate. She, too, is working on a cookbook, just like the other Ros. In January Rozanna said: ‘Hopefully I will have a recipe book out by this time next year — I will definitely have one.
‘It will be stuff that will be relatively easy for people to make.’
Potential future projects: Roz could easily have a competitor cooking show with the former Miss World; Rozanna regularly cooks on television and also turned her hand to a star performance on the programme The Restaurant. She received four stars from critics. That being said, she could begin a fitness business, after all she has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity!
Virginia Macari
Best Known For: Television Presenter and Socialite Virginia, who hails from the Macari fish and chip dynasty, has been a staple on the social scene and on the country’s screens for years. She’s played everything from an Italian barmaid on Podge and Rodge- Virginia was born in Italy but raised on Cork – to appearing as herself on the short-lived reality show Dublin Wives.
Other Pursuits: Fashion Virginia has always dabbled in fashion and just launched a new swimwear collection, Virginia Macari Beachwear Couture, which she describes as ‘luxurious and sensual’. She says: ‘The whole thing is about luxury, about well-designed swimwear and beachwear. I never want someone to look like they have tried too hard. Elegance is the key component.’
Potential Future Pursuits: Surely there must be a call for chic and trendy chip shop wear? If so, Virginia is the one to design it. Perhaps another reality show can chronicle her attempts to
AND THE BOYS TOO… Tommy Bowe
Known for: Playing rugby for Ireland (and being very good-looking) Bowe, from Monaghan, plays on the wing for Ulster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He was named RBS Player of the Championship for the 2010 RBS 6 Nations and the same year named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year. He also starred in an RTÉ documentary called Tommy Bowe’s body check. Bowe broke women’s hearts nationwide last month when he married his long-time girlfriend, Lucy Whitehouse, a former Miss Wales.
Other pursuits: Designing shoes and clothes Many fans were surprised when the rugby star displayed an unusual off-pitch talent- designing shoes. He first teamed up with posh men’s brand Lloyd & Pryce to design a new shoe — and has gone on to put out multiple collections. Not content with that, last year he added a clothing line, XV Kings, to his repertoire.
Potential future projects: It’s unclear how new wife Lucy might feel about it, but most women would agree that Tommy could pursue a career in modelling once he hangs up his boots.
The post From Pippa to Roz, Irish celebs proving they’re not just a pretty face appeared first on EVOKE.ie.