Ellen Keane reaches new heights in quest to put accessible fashion on the map
Championing Penneys' new adaptive clothing line, Irish Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane says it's a full circle moment for her.
Flourishing a baby pink lace bra with delight, Ellen Keane never imagined a day that lingerie would elicit such joy.
'When I was a kid, the scariest thing for me was the thought of wearing a bra, because I was like, 'how am I going to put that on with one hand?'' says the Irish Paralympic champion candidly, before sinking into a plush cream sofa at Penneys HQ.
It's a memory that lingers for the celebrated athlete, whose glittering swimming career began in Beijing in 2008 — when she was just 13 – Ireland's youngest ever athlete.
'The only reason I learned was from seeing people at the pool with one arm do it. They'd close it at the front and then turn it around,' she explains.
Her face lights up as she recalls the launch of Penneys' magnetic front-closing bras — part of the brand's new adaptive range which features over 40 affordable, stylish wardrobe staples, thoughtfully adapted to meet a variety of needs.
'It's so clever and so simple. It just means teenagers don't have to worry about that now — and adults don't have to worry either. Which is huge.'
Ellen with dance partner Stephen Vincent on DWTS
It's a full-circle moment for the 30-year-old Dubliner, who was born with dysmelia, a condition where her left arm did not fully develop below the elbow.
'It can get quite emotional and overwhelming when you see moments like this,' she says. 'Because I never thought I'd see this happen. Which is quite sad. But finally people are now actually starting to recognise that people with disabilities deserve more.'
She grins. 'It's kind of like a proud parent moment for me — the fact that you can say 'Thanks hun, Penneys,' while wearing the adaptive wear range.'
Wearing denim jeans with side splits for accessibility and a white t-shirt with popper fastenings and tube access openings, Ellen is fresh faced and impossibly put together. Knowing her story strikes a chord — especially with younger girls with disabilities, the sports star is determined to impact real change now.
Adaptive Drawstring Joggers, €18; Adaptive zipped sweatshirt €22 Penneys
News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd
'I would've been sent pictures of little girls with one arm who were posing by the side of the Penneys posters, and it was so sweet. But it shouldn't be — it should just be so normal that it isn't a big deal.'
That change in attitude can't come soon enough. Penneys recently launched the findings of its Pulse of the Nation Index, conducted by Amárach Research. The report revealed that 40 per cent of the Irish public believe disabled people are treated unfairly, highlighting a significant knowledge gap in how society understands the challenges disabled people face daily.
For Ellen, this lack of awareness underscores why visibility and representation matter.
Still, the role model status can weigh heavily.
'It's so tiring,' she admits with a sigh. 'And it's probably even more tiring when it's other people with disabilities reaching out to you, desperate for advice. Because you want to help them, but all I know is my disability.'
Ellen in action at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris
It's one of the reasons she wrote her biography, Perfectly Imperfect. But her advocacy isn't just about practical solutions — it's about honesty, humour, and showing up as she is.
'I love being someone that young people can look up to — but I'm also, at the same time, quite shy about it. And then I can get quite angry. Why is it always me? Why can't anyone else do it?'
Thankfully, she sees the next generation demanding more.
'Irish kids are so open to diversity. They recognise what's right or wrong and are more willing to learn and ask for more.'
Even during her competitive years, she saw a shift in perception.
'When I started swimming, no one really cared about my achievements. But the longer I stayed in the sport and the more it grew, able-bodied kids were just seeing me as Ellen, the swimmer. Not Ellen, the Paralympic swimmer.'
That desire to be seen beyond her disability was also why she said yes to Dancing with the Stars.
'I am not just Ellen, the one-armed girl,' she says with a smile. 'That's why I did Dancing with the Stars. I wanted to show people I was just Ellen.'
The star who took on 'Death Road' whilst filming Uncharted with Ray Goggins now wants to open up conversations that often go unspoken — especially around sexuality, relationships and attraction.
'Disabled people have sex. Oh my God. Who would've thought?' she says, grinning. 'And that's the thing about the lingerie range with Penneys — the lingerie is really sexy.'
That desire for openness extended to dating too.
'I tried online for a little bit,' says the social media personality, who is now happily loved up with her boyfriend of two years, Max Doyle.
'But there was the weird sick fantasy thing as well — 'Oh my God, you're so inspirational.' And you're like... I'm on a dating app to meet someone, not to inspire you.'
She sighs. 'It's the fear of rejection. It's the fear of being judged for something you can't change.'
'When you have a disability, it's almost like you have to come out of the disabled closet. You have to own it. You have to be proud of it. You have to love yourself more than you care about the opinion of other people. That's a lot to ask.'
While diversity is increasingly celebrated, she notes that disability often still lags behind.
'People are so quick to celebrate Pride — which is amazing — but we don't see the same for disabled people. We don't see disabled love on screens. And even if there is a disabled character, they're either the villain or in the background.'
The Clontarf native retired from competitive swimming last year, and admits she's still adjusting to life outside the pool.
'It's so funny,' she says. 'When I came home from travelling, my February was so quiet. It was kind of the first time I really noticed — oh, I'm retired now.'
'There were moments where you have to grieve a part of you. Because it is who you are. It's what you've done every day. But I knew I needed to retire. I knew my identity was more than swimming.'
Ellen winning the gold medal in Tokyo at the 2020 Paralympic Games
She pauses. 'I did struggle with how to make decisions, because I've had people making decisions for me my whole life.'
That structure had been in place since childhood. 'I joined the senior team when I was 11. I got drug tested for the first time at 10. I lived with not questioning what I put into my body for 20 years.'
After retirement, that discipline disappeared overnight.
'I struggled a lot with finding purpose in my day. I didn't have anywhere to be. I didn't have anything to do.'
Food, once strictly fuel, became confusing.
'My whole life, I was eating to fuel my sport. I wasn't doing sport anymore, so I just didn't eat. I didn't know how to.'
That's when she leaned on the psychological supports offered through Sport Ireland.
'My clinical psych was saying that as much as she wants to help me, she can't. The only thing she could tell me was: eat three meals a day, try to exercise, and do something I enjoy every day.'
'Because she's like, 'if I tell you what to do, then I'm just being one of those people telling you what to do.''
'It was an adjustment phase — thankfully I've come out the other side.'
Now, post-30, she's finding her own rhythm.
'I went to Disneyland with my boyfriend. I didn't want a big party. Especially when you're an athlete involved in sport, you get so much support all the time that sometimes you're like... I just want it to be quiet.'
These days, it's the mic — not the pool — where Ellen feels most at ease. Hoping for a career in sports broadcasting, Ellen explains:
'I'm so comfortable in front of the camera and the mic. It's a weird thing — in radio studios, there's silence, but it's quite similar to being in water. So I always just feel really comfortable in those studios.'
And when it's live? Even better.
'Pre-records are the worst. It gives you room to make a mistake. I like live. Red light's on. I'm ready to go.'
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