Niamh Redmond

{{short description|Irish former model}} {{use Hiberno-English|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} '''Niamh Marie Redmond''' (born {{birth based on age as of date|19|1996|11|17|noage=1}}) is an Irish former model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned [[Miss Ireland]] 1996.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/THE+BIZ%3b+The+ugly+truth+about+modelling%2c+by+Niamh%3b+IT%27S+IRELAND%27S...-a061167690 THE BIZ; The ugly truth about modelling, by Niamh; IT'S IRELAND'S HOTTEST SHOWBUSINESS COLUMN] (17 November 1996)</ref>

Born to parents Ronald and Orla,<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Oh+baby%2c+you+were+out+of+this+world..%3b+PICTURE+EXCLUSIVE%3a+MISS...-a061269202 Oh baby, you were out of this world..; PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: MISS IRELAND'S CHILDHOOD PHOTO ALBUM]</ref> Redmond grew up the only female child with three brothers in [[Drimnagh]]. At the age of nineteen she represented Dublin at Miss Ireland and was crowned the winner.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NIAMH+HAS+THE+WORLD+AT+HER+FEET%3b+Beauty+vows+to+do+us+proud.-a061269766 NIAMH HAS THE WORLD AT HER FEET; Beauty vows to do us proud]</ref><ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MISS+IRELAND%27S+FEAR+FOR+MUM+AFTER+COLLAPSE%3b+Shock+before+farewell...-a061305000 MISS IRELAND'S FEAR FOR MUM AFTER COLLAPSE; Shock before farewell bash]</ref>

Although her win qualified her to represent the country at [[Miss Universe 1997]],<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Niamh+aims+to+conquer+universe.-a061127471 Niamh aims to conquer universe]</ref> Redmond – who had deferred a place at [[Maynooth College]] to prepare for the pageant – was controversially replaced by Miss Ireland second runner-up Fiona Mullaly.<ref>[http://www.jimmyspageantpage.com/irelandupdate.html Miss Ireland Updates]</ref><ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+FEEL+SO+SAD+FOR+POOR+NIAMH%2c+BUT+IT+REALLY+SHOULD+BE+ME+WHO+IS...-a061125698 I FEEL SO SAD FOR POOR NIAMH, BUT IT REALLY SHOULD BE ME WHO IS GOING!; MISS IRELAND RUNNER-UP MICHELLE JOINS BATTLE OF BEAUTIES]</ref> When queried, pageant boss Kieran Murray stated that Mullaly was best suited to represent Ireland, and his decision to remove Redmond was a bid to raise the standard and profile of Miss Ireland.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WHY+FIONA+IS+MY+MISS+UNIVERSE+BY+CONTEST+BOSS%3b+Beauty+supremo+breaks...-a061099364 WHY FIONA IS MY MISS UNIVERSE BY CONTEST BOSS; Beauty supremo breaks his silence]</ref> Redmond had previously been a contestant at [[Miss World 1996]] where she was a favourite,<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Yes%2c+Niamh+is+really+sizzling...-a061237378 Yes, Niamh is really sizzling...]</ref> but did not place, and former Miss Ireland boss Krish Naidoo, who defended Murray, claimed that Redmond had failed to impress the judges because she had given up completely.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CATTY+KRISH+GETS+UGLY+IN+BATTLE+OF+THE+BEAUTIES%3b+NIAMH+%27GAVE+UP%27+AT...-a061115154 CATTY KRISH GETS UGLY IN BATTLE OF THE BEAUTIES; NIAMH 'GAVE UP' AT MISS WORLD SAYS EX-BOSS]</ref>

As a model, Redmond was lined to promote a range of summer clothing for [[Lee Jeans]] alongside ''[[Fair City]]'' actor Peter Warnock,<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KISS+OF+LIFE%3b+GAY+SCENE+DOES+PETER+NO+HARM+AT+ALL.-a061104610 KISS OF LIFE; GAY SCENE DOES PETER NO HARM AT ALL]</ref> but came under fire when she appeared in a [[contraceptive]]s commercial shortly after being crowned. Redmond graduated with a degree in finance, and worked in IT after her reign.<ref name="MGN">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Niamh+Redmond+wishes+it+to+be+known+that+she+is+retiring+from...-a060405324 Niamh Redmond wishes it to be known that she is retiring from full-time modelling at the age of 22]</ref><ref>[http://communications.nuim.ie/press/150999.shtml NUI MAYNOOTH CONFERS DEGREE ON FORMER MISS IRELAND Tuesday, 15 and Wednesday 16 September, 1998.]</ref>

She is married to former Ireland [[rugby union|rugby]] player and businessman [[Aidan McCullen]]. She has two sons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/mccullen-signs-up-for-katawave-35394419.html|title=McCullen signs up for Katawave – Independent.ie|work=Drogheda Independent|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Redmond, Niamh}} [[Category:Miss World 1996 delegates]] [[Category:Alumni of Maynooth University]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Miss Ireland winners]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Beauty pageant contestants from Dublin (city)]]