When Holly Carpenter entered the Miss Ireland beauty pageant in 2011 her immediate dreams and aspirations were humble - to win a pair of designer jeans.
Now 13 years on from representing Ireland on the Miss World stage, Holly’s career has gone from strength to strength and the model is on top of the world.
‘I entered the Miss University pageant in 2011 and the prize, if you won, was a pair of Rock and Republic jeans,’ Holly told Styled.
'They were like really cool embellished designer jeans. And I was so broke, so I was like, “Oh my God, those jeans are unreal. If I could just win those, I would be the happiest girl in the world”,’ laughed Holly.
And while she did win Miss University and went to be crowned Miss Ireland, she never did receive those “jeans-of-dreams” - but instead the win set her life on a trajectory that back then she never could envisioned.
‘It was very much a short term goal for me; to just win a pair of jeans. I actually never even got those jeans. I don't know why,’ said Holly.
‘But actually that just completely changed the trajectory of my life.’
While her initial goals were fashionable, Holly Carpenter admits her fierce side began to emerge when she found herself in the final Miss Ireland lineup.
‘When I was put forward for Miss Ireland I did get competitive. I was like, “OK I’d love to win”. I thought it would be an amazing opportunity.
But at just 19 years of age, Holly couldn’t possibly have conceived of the opportunities that were about to abound.
'Even at that, I don't think I realised how many doors it was going to open for me. I had an incredible year as Miss Ireland, like going to Miss World, and meeting one girl from nearly every country in the world was incredible.
‘And I think I just wanted to do something that was so different and that would make me feel more confident and proud of myself,' said Holly
‘I never could have imagined that I would get into Britain’s Next Top Model and Dancing With The Stars and so many things that I never would have expected could have come off the back of Miss Ireland.
‘So I think that I have surpassed any goals I did have back then.'
‘And I think to still be in the industry now, all these years later, I wouldn't have expected that.
‘It kind of gave me the platform to be an influencer, and, you know, work with skincare brands and hair care brands that I've used since I was a teenager, and to get paid to work with them on campaigns was the dream.
‘Also, just to have a supportive community. I know that sounds a bit cheesy, but there's people who have followed me on Instagram since I won Miss Ireland, and they've seen me go through so much, and it's mad to think that they've all been following me for that long.’
Clontarf native Holly’s tenure as Miss Ireland in 2011 was a very different place in time than the current social media epoch .
‘It was just very much pre-social media. It was more about photoshoots and the papers and all of that.
‘So I think I was quite naive at that age, but it definitely gave me a thick skin from a young age because, along with all of the perks and exciting sides and the glamorous side of the job, there was the side of like trolling and negative things being written about you.’
Holly is famously close to her family. So close in fact, that her father Karl - himself a former model - taught his daughter how to perfect the catwalk swagger in the family living room.
And it was on her family that Holly relied when the rough and tumble of life under the spotlight became overwhelming.
‘I was lucky that my family was always there. I am very, very close to my family so they always managed to kind of help me, like laugh things off, and remember that things were not that serious - and they helped me not care about what people think about me or say about me.’
As one of the country’s most beautiful models, it was inevitable that Holly’s romances would become the subject of gossip columns, which was a struggle for the newly crowned star.
But now happily engaged and planning her September wedding to her “soul-mate” Jamie Hunt, Holly says she couldn’t be happier.
Last October Holly took to social media to announce Cork native Jamie had popped the all-important question and she, of course, readily accepted.
'It was October of 2020 [when we met] so we were in lockdown, but you could actually still go out and have a meal for 90 minutes. That was the time restrictions at the time.
‘But luckily, Jamie knew the owner of the restaurant, so we were able to stay there for hours.
'And I literally felt from that first date, we just had so much in common. We were belly-laughing. We just had so much to talk about, and I felt I had this weird feeling, almost like I knew him before.
'I do genuinely believe that he's my soul mate. And some people would think that's cheesy, but we're so aligned, and it's like he's able to read me so well without me even speaking.
‘And I think that what made me fall in love with Jamie was how he made me feel when I was around him from such an early stage. He always made me feel so safe and understood, and he's not a judgmental person. He's extremely supportive. '
She added: 'I think I doubt myself a lot. Even if I'm presented with a really exciting opportunity, sometimes my first thought is, "oh, God, I don't know if I can do that. Am I good enough for this? What's gonna happen if it goes wrong?"
'And he's always so reassuring and gives me a nudge and says; "Just go for it".
And as for Jamie, Holly firmly believes that true love is not skin deep.
'I think what made him fall in love with me, he would probably say, I would imagine that he found me very funny.
'It's not bad if I say that, we definitely make each other laugh a lot. And I think he could see how thoughtful I am and how sensitive I am, and I didn't really have an act or a wall up.
‘I think he could just see the real me. And he just knew that. I don't know if it's weird, it seems cheesy to talk about it, but I think we just both had this feeling straight away that we had kind of found "our person", and it was such a mutual thing.'
Looking back on their first official date Holly said she knew that she had found her happy ever after.
'You know, our first date was in October, and then by November, we were official. He asked me to be his girlfriend one day on a bench in St Stephens Green.
‘I had such a tummy-flip when he asked me. That was like butterflies all over my body, because it wasn't just that "oh my god, he's asked me to be my girlfriend".
‘I think I knew at that point that this was the beginning of something completely different to something so special. And I think I knew from that stage that, like, this was it.’
Roaring 20s
The Jazz Age was a stylish era of rebellion, revolutionary fashion, and iconic trends. It was a time where jazz music interacted with Art Deco design and the counter-culture. And fashion, of course, was at the epicentre of this revolutionary age.
And much like a century ago, the times they are a-changin. Women are daring, different, bolder and more forthright in life and style.
In the 1920s, women wanted clothing that would look incredible and make a statement about who they were and what they were about. From slinky slip dresses to glamorous hair accessories, 100 years later, the decade known for opulent fashion is back and taking over our closets.
Intricate beading, uneven hemlines, over-the-top design details roared into the fashion realm. Wearing eye-catching outfits isn’t something that has gone out of style - in fact, party dresses adorned with scintillating sequins or decadent beading are once again coming back into style.
Incorporate glitzy '20s-inspired pieces into your wardrobe with embellished dresses, over-the-top accessories, fabulous fringe and sparkly statement earrings to bring out your sophisticated style.
Strike the right cord
From classic cuts to cool-girl short-shorts, corduroy is having a moment. The chic jean alternative made its mark on 2025 runways with brands like The Row, Miu Miu, Loewe, making cords uber cool again.
Corduroy no longer comes just in chocolate brown. In fact cords are making an impact in all colours from lush cream and olive green to raging pinks and cherry reds. Styling-wise, strike a chord on the street style scene by teaming chords with everything from timeless trench coats, clunky boots and pretty pumps to oversized shirts and comfy cashmere crewnecks. Then, there’s the case of the double-corduroy look, with the spotlight on sturdy blazers and overshirts with matching trousers.
Check mate
Style geometry can be a puzzle. A pattern that ostensibly on canvas shouldn’t go can beautifully blend. While one piece of checked garment can look stylish and sensible, check on check can look chic on chic, and can instantly shift the tone of an outfit and lift your look.
At Chanel, woollen coats in oversized windowpane checks were layered over tweed trouser suits. Style maven Victoria Beckham does check well and is regularly seen stepping out in the eye-catching pattern.
And this check-on-check suit by Irish designer Aoife Rooney matched with one of her vivacious lavender ruffle neck shirts is an eye-popping, stylish look to take you from country to city chic in the blink of an eye.
All looks from THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH BOUTIQUE in Rathmines, PEARL OASIS STUDIO and AOIFE ROONEY DESIGN
Photography by Evan Doherty
Hair by Jessica Dowdall
Makeup by Sarah O’Brien Beauty
Shot on location at The Club Hotel at Goffs
The Club Hotel at Goffs is a 4-star boutique hotel in Kildare, just 25 minutes from Dublin on the N7. Whether celebrating a special milestone or unwinding with a peaceful escape, the hotel offers an exceptional experience. Their elegant deluxe rooms and award-winning dining ensures every stay is truly memorable. Enjoy menus crafted with local ingredients, imaginative cocktails, live weekend music, and breakfasts worth lingering over—in bed or in the brasserie. Perfect for girly getaways, couples' spa retreats, solo escapes, or milestone celebration stays. To book, visit their website at https://www.clubhotel.ie/ or alternatively call 01 685 6189.
