Just under a month ago, things massively changed for Lisa Madden.
When her name was read out as the winner of Miss Universe Ireland, her dream – albeit one that only started a few months earlier – came to be.
Now the 21-year-old from Cork is representing us in the Miss Universe pageant, following in the footsteps of Roz Purcell.
And Lisa knows that just like Roz, it doesn’t have to end on a catwalk in front of Donald Trump. No, she has plans – and tells Goss.ie about why Celebrity Bainisteoir is first on the list.
Chat: Goss.ie reporter Paul Daly chatted to Lisa Madden
You must be thrilled to be Miss Universe Ireland! How are you finding the fame so far?
Yeah I’m thrilled, I really didn’t expect it at all so I am delighted – really happy. The fame has been crazy alright – it’s a bit mad but I am loving it. I am living in the moment and taking it all in so it’s good.
Are your friends and family excited?
They’re so excited. My mom especially. This is just a dream. She loves it. They have all been really supportive. The amount of Facebook messages and texts I got after winning – it was just lovely from people I haven’t heard from in so long, so long may it continue.
Are you already sussing out any of the competition?
Yeah, oh my God. Venezuela [Migbelis Castellanos] – I am all over that. There are all these blogs and forums set up already that I’ve been looking at.
Competition: Lisa has already sussed out Venezuela as the one to beat
How did it come about to even enter?
I was in Thailand this summer with a friend and Vivienne who runs Lockdown Models in Cork got onto me saying ‘Would you have any interest in representing Cork in the Miss Universe Ireland this year?’
And I was kind of humming and hawing because, while I would do a lot of fashion modelling so this would be my first pageant; I’d never done a pageant before.
So my friend was like ‘You would be daft not to do it – you love dressing up, you love tan, you love make-up, you love eyelashes.’ She was like, ‘Do it!’ So I did it on Saturday – and luckily I won.
Is there ever any drama at pageants?
No;Â not at all. All the girls were so lovely. There was 12 of us in total and everyone was really nice. I didn’t know what to expect but their was absolutely none. Unless they all wanted to shoot me after it – I don’t know. But they were really lovely girls, really nice!
Inspiration: Lisa hopes Roz will help her win at Miss Universe | BRIAN MCEVOY
Is Roz Purcell an inspiration to you as she also represented Ireland in Miss Universe?
Absolutely, she is just amazing. If I could do half as well as she did then I would be a very happy girl coming home.
Do you believe you need to have a stage persona for these competitions?
I think so, I am a firm believer in always being yourself. I think with competitions like this people do try and catch you out and try and be like, ‘Oh, she said this.’ They just try and portray you to be a person that they might want you to be.
You do obviously have to have some kind of stage presence, and you do have to be turned on and happy and smiling all of the time but theres also a certain element of having to be yourself as well because at the end of the day that is who you are representing. You’re representing yourself and your country.
Would you ever consider a reality TV show down the line?
Big time. I definitely would. My dad’s dream would be for me to do Celebrity Bainisteoir – I think he would have me out training in two weeks time. He is just obsessed with the sport and he just thinks that’s the best thing ever.
Honestly, Roz Purcell is an inspiration [she previously appeared on Celebrity Bainisteoir] and I think everything she has done is just so classy and professional and I’d love to be like that.
Stunning: Lisa is expected to become a huge name in Ireland | VIPIRELAND.COM
As you mentioned Roz, she also got picked up by Donald Trump’s modelling agency in New York. Would you love that?
That is amazing – that’s the part I am really excited about. I love Donald Trump. I haven’t really spoke to Roz yet – I would only know Roz through the modelling scene.
I would find Roz very approachable and I know for a fact that I would have no problems messaging her on Facebook and I know for a fact that she would reply to me.
Like even my brother was going to Kilimanjaro about a year or two ago and I got onto her to ask her because she did it and she came back and she gave me a big long message and really put her heart into it so she is just a really approachable person so I will definitely be onto her the night before.
Is it hard to balance modelling and college?
It is, it’s tough enough. Especially because I’m in Cork and trying to come up and down. But when you love something so much then I don’t mind.
Coming up to Dublin is a treat now for me and a day off and it’s not too difficult. I don’t really mind putting in extra hours in college if I get to do this as well so that’s my plan for this year. What I am missing one day I will just go in early the next day and catch up.
Top table: Lisa posed alongside judges and the runners up | BRIAN MCEVOY
You were on Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model as well before Miss Universe Ireland – was there bitchiness there?
I believe that Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model will stand to me because obviously I’m going to be with a group of girls for three weeks and I live at home, I have one brother. I’m not used to being surrounded by loads of girls 24 hours seven days a week.
With Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model I just knew there were some days that I had to take my time alone and their were other days that I was fine. I think what I have learned is that you just stay away from the drama.
It would ruin the experience if you got caught up in it and I wouldn’t be into that kind of thing – I wouldn’t be into the whole bitchy side of things. I think the best thing to do is just enjoy it and if you do need time away then take your time away and cool down and then go back out.
