As wife of one of the country's best known personalities, Gillian Filan very often finds herself in front of batteries of flashing camera bulbs, so she knows the importance of style and poise.
A self-confessed "Tom Boy" in her early years, Gillian was catapulted into the limelight once she married her childhood sweetheart, Westlife's Shane Filan, and she very quickly rediscovered her penchant for fashion and style.
"As a youngster I was a bit of a Tom Boy, but like all girls, I always had an interest in fashion. In my twenties, I started to really get into it and because I'm sometimes in the public eye, I'm probably more fashion conscious than ever," she reveals.
That eye for style was always in the family. In fact, Gillian's older sister, Joanna, is a successful jewellery designer, whose marvellous creations very often enhance Gillian's public appearances.
Being exposed to a lot of stylish occasions has given Gillian a keen appreciation of the importance of clothes, make-up and deportment, making her an ideal judge for the SLIGO CHAMPION SEARCH FOR A MODEL competition. And she's relishing the challenge.
"I think it's a great idea. There are so many stunning looking girls in Sligo who could definitely make careers in the modelling profession, and this is a genuine opportunity for somebody to make a significant breakthrough," she says.
From her own experiences, she's acutely aware of how difficult it can be for somebody in rural Ireland to achieve that illusive breakthrough, but it's getting easier and this competition, she feels, might be another step up the ladder for a budding model.
"Dublin has always had lots of modelling competitions, so I suppose it's only natural that most models are based in or close to the capital. But competitions like this provide an opportunity for girls to have a chance in their own area, and that's very important.
"It will be very interesting to find a model in Sligo and to see how far that person can take it. While I would hate to think it would all be very serious, it is nonetheless an important opportunity for anyone who feels they might have a talent in this regard," Gillian adds.
She emphasises the fun element, urging people to get involved primarily for the enjoyment of the experience.
"My advice to anybody considering entering the competition would be, firstly, to go out and enjoy it. It has to be fun, or there's no point doing it. My other tip would be not to be shy or lacking in confidence. Leave all those inhibitions behind and really go for it.
"I know it's going to be a great night when the final is staged in the Castle Dargan Hotel on April 30th. I'm really looking forward to it," she concludes.
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