Ennis woman Olivia Legowska will feature in this year’s Miss Bikini Ireland (MBI) Finals.
The 21-year-old Law and Tax student at LIT is one of 65 contestants that will take part in the 2020/2021 competition. The Rice College Ennis graduate admits that acceptance into the competition has been a real confidence booster and is looking forward to getting out on stage and “just being herself.”
Her first brush with the modelling world began in 6th year, when she spotted a sign on a window looking for local models to take part in a photoshoot. Thankful for the experience, Olivia decided to focus on her Leaving Certificate while also working as a waitress. It wasn’t until second year of college that she received her first paid gig.
“I started to realise that I can actually do this as a job. It then became a part-time job, where I had to balance college life whilst also working as a waitress in Limerick. It wasn’t until Miss Bikini Ireland commented on one of my photoshoots that I actually applied. I had to check to see if it was actually them,” she told The Clare Echo.
Magnified by the acknowledgement, Olivia quickly got her faculties in check and hired a personal trainer. She notes a big change in her lifestyle, having never really attended the gym before and having registered little interest in PE in school. She credits her diet as the staple of her preparations, particularly in the midst of gym closures in recent months. “It is a competition, and I would like to win. Saying that, all the contestants are so nice. I found it stressful to talk to them at first and I had assumptions that they would be a little stuck up, but I was wrong. We have a group chat where we talk regularly. We have organised meet ups for after Covid. They have been so supportive,” she states.
The final, which was due to take place in January 2021 has been postponed to March or possibly further. The final operates in rounds where judges take the 65 in stages, weaning the competition down to the Top 20, then 15, 10 and then to the final 3 contestants. Olivia concedes that the final, which includes a catwalk, is unfamiliar territory. “It’s different to photoshoots, which is what I have done. I have been researching how to pose. You can’t prepare too much though. I’m trying not to overthink it and am eagerly awaiting the day.”
Acceptance into the contest has helped open other doors for Olivia, who recently featured in a three-page spread in ISO Magazine. One of these photos was also picked up by Swimsuit International’s Instagram page, which has a following of 16k. Olivia toutes the power of social media and Instagram in allowing the modelling industry to flourish even further. She has spent the last few months making her own personal account more presentable for the judges.
Olivia will finish her undergraduate degree this year and is already looking at applying for a masters at the University of Limerick. She also intends to do her FE-1’s. “I would like to do modelling as a part-time job. It’s never really full-time due to there being no guaranteed income. Saying that, I will keep doing it for as long as I can. I really enjoy the experience and meeting people,” she concludes.
Vote for Olivia to bypass the judges and make the Top 6 of the MBI Finals. Voting remains open until February 12th and a link can be accessed through her Instagram Page: @oliviaaa_livv.
