Young Wexford trio earn spot on Junk Kouture's world stage ‘It's the most amazing feeling ever!'
Ellen Chapman, Anna Murphy and Kayla Butler creatively designed and hand-crafted their Gear Glamour dress, which was made solely from the parts of two bikes and a bike cover. Not leaving any part unaccounted for, the ambitious designers formed their skirt from bike tyres, the wires were included in the underskirt and the train that trailed the dress was crafted by weaving together the recycled bike cover. The inner rubber tubing of the tyres were plaited and stitched together to form the corset, and a headpiece was created by using the remainder of the tyres as well as spokes, chains and brake cable. The outfit was completed by removing the heels of a second-hand pair of heeled sandals, which were then cleverly replaced by old gear cogs stacked upon each other.
'When we formed our group and began our project, we realised that we all have a different set of skills and focusing on our strengths as a team is what helped us complete our design,' explained Kayla.
Kayla also outlined that the inspiration from the design came from their rural community, as their school is located in south county Wexford, and students are heavily reliant on cars and busses to get to school. Inspiring others to reduce their carbon footprint where possible is what led the girls to focus their project around cycling and bikes.
When the team reached the national finals, Ellen, who modelled the design for Gear Glamour, described the announcement of the result while she was on stage as 'the most amazing feeling ever'.
'The adrenaline was rushing through me and it's all a bit of a blur because it happened so quickly, but it was really amazing to be up there on stage in front of the crowd,' she added. In addition to being proud of their work and making it to the world stage, Ellen described Junk Kouture as a great initiative to be involved with as 'it has opened so many doors already.'
Gear Glamour is one of the top 10 teams in the country that has progressed to the international stage, flying the flag high for Ramsgrange in the World finals which see groups from Abu Dhabi, London, Milan, New York and Paris all compete to be crowned the coveted overall Junk Kouture champion.
Anna explained that the Gear Glamour girls are hoping the upcoming announcement for the world event, which is due to be held in 2026, will take them overseas. 'This year's world competition was held in Dublin, and if they decide to host it in a country abroad next year, our accommodation and our flights will be included, which is nice, but that the question we're being asked from all angles – 'where are worlds on?' and we're really looking forward to finding out and taking a trip together, with our designated Educator, Sharon McGee,' said Anna.
As the trio will be moving from TY to fifth year in September, Kayla's advice to anyone who may be apprehensive about the programme and getting involved in the programme is to 'honestly, dive in."
"Take advantage of every single opportunity. There's so much to do in TY, and if you don't take advantage of those opportunities, then you get nothing out of it. Junk Kouture is just one of the many, many things that we have done and TY has been an amazing experience, it's been unbelievable and I'd recommend it to everybody,' she concluded.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
21 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Bundee Aki's life away from the pitch - from wife and kids to Irish citizenship
Bundee Aki's set to start for the British and Irish Lions during their match against Argentina on Friday night. The New Zealand-born centre, who has been a revelation for both Connacht and Ireland, has been lauded as one of the best players in the country — being nominated as World Player of the Year in 2023. Both on and off the pitch, Bundee has support in the form of his family — with his wife and four children all residing in Galway with him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) Bundee and his wife Kayla wed in their native New Zealand in 2018, two years after he was a part of the Connacht team that won the Pro12. The couple have three daughters, Armani-Jade, Adrianna and Ailbhe, as well as a son called Adronicus — with three of the kids being born at home after Kayla had a poor experience with the birth of eldest Armani-Jade. The couple also revealed that they were expecting their fifth child earlier this month in an adorable photo on Instagram where Kayla showed off her baby bump. Bundee regularly shares his family on social media, and shared an adorable photo of himself, Kayla and the kids after the country won back-to-back Six Nations championships last year. Bundee Aki and his wife Kayla share four children together, with a fifth on the way. Pic: INPHO/Andrew Downes While there have been plenty of honorary Irishmen and women over the years (Jack Charlton being the most famous example), Bundee revealed last year that he was one of over 3,000 people who became Irish citizens, getting the passport to boot. Speaking on his citizenship, Bundee told the Late Late Show that the decision to join Connacht, which ultimately changed his life, didn't come lightly. 'Obviously, at the time it was a big decision,' he said. 'It wasn't an easy one — I obviously had to talk to a few close family members, close friends and coaches. I had a small family at the time, my wife and two kids and the youngest one was three years old, so to get the call from Pat Lam to come over here and offer an opportunity… I knew I had to give it everything I got.' Bundee became an Irish citizen last October, over 10 years after he joined Connacht. Pic: Courtesy of RTÉ News 'That's one thing I made sure I stood by, to give it everything for my family and for Connacht. It's been 10 years now and I've enjoyed every single bit of it. It doesn't even feel like 10 years — more like two or three years.' 10 years after joining Connacht, he became an Irish citizen — saying that he was greeted with open arms over the previous decade by Irish people. 'It's not just what I do on or off the pitch,' Bundee said. 'The way they've treated me and my family, obviously in Galway, but around the country too, how lovely people are, how welcoming they are with me and my kids. 'You can honestly feel how proud they are, and I feel the love they've given me and for me to be able to get granted the citizenship was no better feeling than to be able to get that chance to be able to say, I can now embrace the Irish culture.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
World's sexiest volleyball star Kayla Simmons puts on busty display in just bikini and open shirt
KAYLA SIMMONS stunned fans as she put on a busty display in an open shirt. The 29 Kayla Simmons put on a busty display in a selfie Credit: instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 She shared this picture from her beach trip Credit: instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 Kayla is regularly wows fans with her bikini pictures Credit: Instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 She has 1million followers on Instagram Credit: INSTAGRAM @kaylasimmmons She added a caption to the picture in which she said that she was going to the beach after a workout. She wrote: 'Straight from core power to the beach.' The READ MORE IN SPORT She also took a £129 Guess beach bag and a Natural Light snapback cap with her. The snaps would have been viewable to the 1million people who follower her Instagram account. It is not the first time fans have seen the bikini top as The pictures come a week after she visited Catalina Island in California. Most read in Other Sports During the trip, she posted many glamorous pictures of herself. She also Kayla Simmons films herself in sauna wearing just a tiny bikini as 'world's sexiest volleyball player' sends fans wild 29 Kayla recently visited Catalina Island in California Credit: instagram @kaylasimmons 29 She wore a revealing red cardigan during the trip Credit: instagram @kaylasimmons 29 She took this selfie in a bathroom Credit: instagram @kaylasimmons 29 She basked in the sunlight during a boat trip Credit: instagram @kaylasimmons Kayla has also recently went She modestly claimed that she was just "playing mermaids". She has since become a successful model and regularly shares snaps of her heart-racing shoots on her social media pages. She also gives her most loyal supporters the chance to interact with her on OnlyFans . A GLIMPSE INTO KAYLA SIMMONS' GLAMOROUS LIFE... 29 Kayla has been dubbed the world's sexiest volleyball star 29 Kayla played volleyball for Marshall University - although usually not in this outfit Credit: Instagram / Kaylasimmmons 29 She has built up a huge following on social media 29 On both TikTok and Instagram she has amassed combined 1.8million followers Credit: Instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 Kayla still plays volleyball occasionally and pulled off a trick shot with her bum Credit: INSTAGRAM @kaylasimmmons @outofsystemofficial 29 Kayla revealed how she keeps her peachy rear in perfect shape Credit: Instagram/kaylasimmmons 29 It's not just volleyball Kayla can play as she impressed at Top Golf 29 The beauty regularly wows her fans with bikini snaps on Instagram Credit: Instagram 29 Kayla 'gave a new meaning to sideboob' in this upload Credit: Instagram/Kaylasimmons 29 Kayla loves the beach Credit: Instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 Kayla gave this dog an eyeful Credit: Instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 And this little kitten didn't know where to look Credit: Instagram/kaylasimmmons 29 Kayla shared a collection of steamy photos to her Instagram from her summer trip around Europe Credit: Instagram/Kayla Simmons 29 Kayla lives a glamorous life Credit: Instagram/Kayla Simmons 29 She shared this seriously busty snap on Instagram Credit: Instagram @kaylasimmmons 29 She love to stay tanned and posts pictures from her sunbathing days Credit: Instagram / @kaylasimmmons 29 But she showed off her sunburn here Credit: Instagram/Kayla Simmons 29 Kayla delighted fans with this bikini pic Credit: Instagram/kaylasimmmons 29 Fans regularly heap praise on her for her figure 29 Kayla shared this busty photo with her one million Instagram followers Credit: Instagram/kaylasimmmons 29 Kayla is one of the most popular sport's influencers
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Former ROI manager Stephen Kenny's daughter crowned Miss Ireland & steps out with rarely-seen-family in new snaps
IRISH sporting legend Stephen Kenny's daughter Caoimhe posed for a snap alongside her dad as she bagged a major crown. The popular footballer shares three other kids with his wife Siobhan; Eoin, Neave, Fionn and Caoimhe. Advertisement 3 Caoimhe took home the Miss Ireland crown last night Credit: Brian McEvoy 3 Caoimhe was runner-up last year in the competition Credit: Brian McEvoy 3 All of Caoimhe's family were at the glam event to celebrate her win Credit: Brian McEvoy Yesterday, the 77th Miss Ireland competition took place at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath. During the evening 21 finalists stepped out into the spotlight for the glam event, vying for the coveted crown However, only one of the girls could emerge on top, and the latest recipient of the Miss The pair beamed as they posed for a quick snap after Caoimhe had received the top accolade. Advertisement read more on stephen kenny Caoimhe was the first runner-up in the competition last year in She is also a volunteer with Save Our Homeless Dundalk and Hygiene Hub Louth. Caoimhe also worked for the Junk Kouture competition and attended the Oscar Wilde Awards in LA wearing a dress made from plastic created by teenage students in Ireland. She has been a dancer since she was five years old, training in ballet, tap, modern dance and acrobatics. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog The 24-year-old embraced her dad warmly as both of them could barely contain their joy. The 53-year-old looked dapper in a smart green and black three piece suit. RTE star makes hilarious response to Joe Duffy replacement rumours While Caoimhe looked ethereal in a jaw-dropping green frock that featured little embellished flowers. In another snap from the evening, former Miss Ireland, Rebecca Maguire delightedly handed over the crown to Caoimhe. Advertisement It was a full family celebration for Caoimhe as after receiving the crown, she was snapped chatting to her two grannies. PROUD PARENT Both Stephen and Siobhan's mothers, Marie Kenny and Olive Whelan, beamed with pride as they spoke to their granddaughter. Former Miss Irelands include In recent years, the Miss Ireland franchise has raised over €350,000 for various charities including Laura Lynn, Temple Street, Alzheimer's Ireland, Pieta House, The Cari Foundation and The Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Advertisement The Miss Ireland pageant aims to celebrate intelligence, ambition, and cultural pride, evolving into a platform that champions female leadership and philanthropy. The winner of Miss Ireland receives a modelling agency contract and a host of prizes before jetting off to represent Ireland next year on the international stage at the Miss World Festival.
