CATWALK PRINCESS
AMIE MEEHAN DREAMS OF BECOMING A MODEL AND THANKS TO LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER SUZY MCCANNY HER LIFE- LONG AMBITION IS BECOMING A REALITY. SHE CHATS TO EMMA GALLAGHER.
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR AMIE
FASHION has always been the main love of 24- yearold Amie Meehan’s life. She spends hours on end sifting through magazines, cutting out designs she’s interested in and putting them in her many scrap- books. The Culfadda native, who has Down Syndrome, is finally realising her dream at becoming a model.
This is mainly down to a recent photo- shoot with local photographer Suzy McCanny in her studio, where Amie was given the choice of coming up with five themes for the shoot, which came with hairdresser, make- up artist also to boot.
Since the shoot, which Amie absolutely loved, there has been serious interest in achieving her ambition to become a model.
Already she’s taken part in a glamorous modelling event in the Radisson hotel in Athlone and Amie’s also been added to a major catwalk show later this year.
Her proud mother, Cathy, said it’s been a fantastic, whirl- wind journey and Amie is loving every minute of it.
“It’s been Amie’s dream since she was really young to do modelling as fashion has always played a big role in her life.
“Every magazine about fashion she can get her hands on, she spends ages reading through the articles, looking at the various designs and anything that catches her eye, she’ll cut out for again.
“She’s loved clothes from an early age and is in heaven when we come to town, she’ll be asking to go around the shops looking at all the styles.”
A friend of Amie’s contacted photographer Suzy telling her about Amie’s story and wondered if a photo- shoot was possible.
Up stepped Suzy and organised a glamorous shoot and the beautiful photographs show Amie as a natural in front of the camera.
Cathy continued: “She absolutely adored it, she loved every minute. “Amie can be shy at times but she really came into her own during this.
“There was a make- up artist and a hairstylist there too and she was in her element throughout. Beforehand, she was given the job of researching what looks she wanted to go with.
“So she started looking into the looks that were of interest and came up with her favourites.”
These included a biker chic look, which Amie loved, a flower theme, a princess one with a long, flowing dress, a peacock look and also a Hollywood theme with a beautiful headpiece.
Cathy continued: “She went in to Suzy’s studio and spent the full day there. It was stunning, Amie was treated like a little star.
“She loved it so much and the comments from people afterwards have been overwhelming.
“We got a phone- call shortly after from Wedding Secrets and they were having a wedding fair in the Radisson hotel in Athlone and wanted Amie to be a part of it.” She was invited along and her dream of walking down the catwalk became a reality.
Amie said: “I got to walk down the cat- walk with Mr Ireland Darren King, and I got to wear three outfits. It was really good.” Cathy revealed she was extremely proud of her daughter seeing her walk down the catwalk.
“It was fantastic, it was such a great thing for her and she looked fabulous.
“I was so proud of her, when she was coming out I nearly cried at seeing her up there.
“Everyone was cheering for her, which was lovely.”
Cathy said there were no nerves on show either. “She got a big introduc- tion with massive cheers and down the catwalk she went and put her hand out like a real pro! I was really happy for her.
“It means so much to Amie and for the organisers to go and take time to arrange and go out of their way to bring Amie into the event was really appreciated.
“The models too were so nice and took pictures with Amie afterwards as well.”
It seems Amie’s catwalk dreams are set to continue too, with more calls from agencies interested in working with her.
Cathy said: “We got a phonecall from Mandy Maher, who runs the Catwalk Modelling Agency, and she’s organising a huge event in Kilronan Castle in October.
“There’s 400 people going to be there and Mandy said she’d love to have Amie on the catwalk.
“She’s thrilled about that and is really looking forward to it. People are saying Amie’s a natural on the catwalk, this is her dream come true.
“Everyone is saying how fantastic it is for her and how she looks fabulous up there on the catwalk,” Cathy added.
Amie said her favourite look from the shoot with Suzy was the Hollywood one because it was so glamorous.
Cathy added: “We’ve been so overwhelmed by the response from people and the comments, everyone has been really lovely, telling Amie things like she looks beautiful and to go for her dream.
“We are all so, so proud of her. She wore this beautiful headpiece at the wedding fair, it was made from fresh flowers. Amie got to bring it home and she wore it for the whole evening, she was that chuffed.
“The organisers and models go out of their way to welcome Amie, it means a lot.
“We’re hoping there will be more calls in the coming weeks, Amie can’t wait, the sky is the limit for her now,” her proud mum added.