Dancing with Stars in fake tan wars
Six-foot tall Alannah reveals she’s not looking for love on the dancefloor and how she’s learned to embrace her ‘lankiness’
STANDING six-foot tall, with stunning looks and a girl-next-door charm, Alannah Beirne can’t fail to impress. And while she is taking to the floor on RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars, she said the only impression she wants to make is on the public and the judges, and that she has no interest in looking for love.
As her fellow model Thalia Heffernan is heading towards her first anniversary with dancer boyfriend Ryan McShane – after meeting on the show last year – Alannah says she is not looking for ballroom romance.
‘I am single. There’s no romance, they’re all pretty much in relationships, so there’s not much to choose from. And to be honest, I’m not looking for anything. I came into this to learn how to dance and finding love was the last thing on my mind. But I have all the craic with the lads, but it’s friendszone.’
Alannah was an eleventh-hour entry to the competition after former Miss Ireland Aoife Walsh pulled out with a broken toe.
‘I was so delighted when I got the call. It was an instant “yes”. Obviously I was devastated for Aoife, but I was absolutely over the moon. My family were jumping for joy as they knew I really wanted it. It’s definitely a challenge but I am so
‘My family were jumping for joy when I got DWTS’
excited and I am loving it.’
The model shot to prominence when she reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Next Top Model. She clearly inherited her model ambitions from her mother Brenda Hyland Beirne, who, as a trainee garda 30 years ago, was crowned Rose of Tralee.
And while her mother wasn’t overly enthused about her desire to forge a modelling career, she supported her choices and even taught her how to walk the walk.
‘With the modelling she taught me how to walk. She didn’t encourage me that much to pursue a modelling career.’
At six feet in flats, Alannah admits that growing up she was called ‘lanky’ and was even kicked out of the popular set because of her height. But now she embraces her height.
‘Being tall when I was younger was quite difficult. I am five inches taller than the average woman. There are positives and negatives to that. Growing up I was called the usual – lanky, giraffe – which didn’t bother me too much. But I did hate being taller than my primary school class. I was kicked out of the popular set because I had big feet. I was always a bit awkward. But Mum taught me how to walk and have presence and stand up straight. That’s a message that I like to get across: to embrace
being tall and don’t bow down to the rest of them – and love it. I wear heels every day even though I am six foot tall. Everyone should embrace their body.’
Her school experience appears to have instilled in Alannah an ability to take things in her considerably long stride, and she has developed a thick skin which has stood to her in the tough modelling industry. ‘You learn to take criticism on the chin, you want to improve. Modelling is a tough industry and over the years I’ve definitely built up courage and a thick skin, because in that industry you are going to get criticism. You are going to get a lot of people that don’t like you, but you have to take the criticism and try to improve. ‘It’s going great. I am absolutely exhausted. We are dancing a very, very fast dance this week. I’m sweating buckets, my legs are like jelly. I’m working my ass off. Vitali [her partner] is fantastic and I love him, but he’s a tough teacher and he’s screaming at me.
‘The days are tough and the hours are long, but I’m putting all my power into it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I’m really just going for it. And, obviously, there’s the first eliminations this weekend so I don’t want to be going home.
‘When I initially found out that I didn’t get DWTS I was crying and really upset. Then, the following day, I got a call to say I am shooting in New York.
‘But you have to keep pushing. Nothing is easy in life.
‘Britain’s Next Top Model was really tough and mentally exhausting and draining because you are in a house 24/7 and there’s a lot more bitchiness and competitiveness. It’s very challenging: every day there’s a photoshoot. It was very scary but also a great experience.’
Her fellow dancers, she says, are all one big happy dance family.
‘Everyone is great. At the weekend’s we get to spend a lot of time together and get to know each other. They’re all great, we are all having the craic.’
She has also garnered huge support in her home town of Naas, with a garage even gifting her a car emblazoned with her name, in a bid to drum up support and votes.
‘The support has been amazing. They gave me a car and they said they were going to put my name on it.… I went to my primary school to pop in posters and see the teachers.
The kids were going mad and asking for autographs. I think it’s really important to go back to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me. It’s overwhelming.’
The model, an ambassador for Great Lengths hair extensions, also touches on her insecurities, but says she tries to be as real as she can.
‘I like to be real. I think people respect you being real and not throwing up a picture that has been totally facetuned.
‘I do a bit of facetune on spots and stuff. I’m not going to lie. The more honest and open you are about how you look, the better… people relate to you more.’
While she embraces her fantasy, reality was a dream come true when she donned a fairytale dress for her first solo dance. ‘Last Sunday I felt like a princess in my dress. I was in my element.’ Dancing With The Stars is on RTÉ One tonight at 6.30pm. The latest Great Lengths campaign, 100% You, aims to educate women on how extensions can enhance natural hair and address common hair problems. It uses ethically sourced human hair to resore a natural look and help women feel more confident.