Meet the Miss Ireland hopeful who's channelling Amal Clooney

Sean O'Grady

PUBLISHED05/09/2016 | 07:35

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Jasmine Gerhardt and her mum Sharon O'Sullivan

She impressed the organisers so much that they allowed her to enter the competition late, and now Dubliner Jasmine Gerhardt is hoping to follow in her mother's Miss Ireland footsteps.

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The Blanchardstown beauty (18), who's representing Dublin West, also wants to be a high-flying lawyer like her idol, Amal Clooney.

Jasmine's family are no strangers to the catwalk - her mum, Sharon O'Sullivan Gerhardt, competed in Miss Ireland and came in the top eight.

"My mam, who's a huge inspiration to me, was a Miss Ireland finalist 30 years ago," Jasmine told the Herald.

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Jasmine Gerhardt

"I've always been interested in the competition and what it stands for. Miss Ireland would give me a platform to help charities and further my career and represent young women in my country."

Sharon hopes the competition will bring Jasmine out of her shell.

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Miss Ireland contestants: Miss Meath: Aisling O'Reilly, Dublin West: Jasmine Gerhardt, Miss Tipperary: Niamh Kennedy, Miss Laois: Eileen Moore and Miss Tralee: Blathin Griffin in Sligo

"I said to her, 'You've just done your Leaving Cert, so why don't you go for it?' She's a bit shy, so I said this would be good for her to bring her out of herself," she said.

"If nothing else, it definitely makes you more confident."

Read more: Rose of Tralee winner Maggie defends competition: 'They are being depicted as ungrateful, catty princesses'

Jasmine applied to be a wildcard contestant but missed the deadline. However, the organisers decided to waive the deadline and allow her to compete.

Sharon said Jasmine hopes to study law as her idol is George Clooney's barrister wife Amal, who specialises in human rights legislation.

"Every mother thinks their child will win, but if she did she would be a great ambassador for young women," said Sharon.

"She loves Amal Clooney. She says, 'I'm gonna study law and I want to be like her'.

"Jasmine loves the underdog. If she walks into a room, she'll gravitate to the person that needs her.

"She's a very caring kid. If she won, she would be the happiest girl in the world."

Jasmine will compete alongside two other Dubs, Dublin South contestant Emma Doher-ty and Dublin North's Carolyn Reilly in Dublin's Crowne Plaza Hotel on September 23.

http://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/style-talk/meet-the-miss-ireland-hopeful-whos-channelling-amal-clooney-35021712.html