NORTHERN IRELAND’s

Do you have any tips for young
people who might be planning to
take their test soon?
I know it’s a cliché, but just stay
calm and don’t let nerves get the
better of you. You know what you
have to do, so putting extra
pressure on yourself will only make
it harder. If you don’t pass first
time don’t worry, you will have
learnt from each experience and it
will make you a better driver.
I think it’s really important to have
your driving license and to get it
as soon as you can even if you
don’t think you’ll be driving
straight away. It’s an important skill
to have and very I’m glad I got
mine when I did.
What was your first car and what do
you drive now?
My first car was a Vauxhall Astra,
which my brother drives at the
moment. I’m very fortunate to have
been gifted a car from Downey’s
during my year as Open & Direct
Miss Northern Ireland so I currently
drive a gorgeous Kia Rio.
It’s small and compact but
deceptively spacious inside,
which is ideal for me
because I’ve always got half
a wardrobe in the back as
I’m often going from one job
to the next and need a
change of outfit or different
shoes. I regularly work as part
of a team so I could have three
or four people in the car with
me on the way to a job and it
never feels cramped. Downey’s
gave me a gorgeous model with
white vinyl interior and heated
seats, which is such a luxury when
I’ve been working late or doing a
photocall outside in the cold. I
absolutely love my car!
What’s your dream car?
I’m a country girl so I’d love a
Range Rover. Victoria Beckham
helped design the Evoque model
which is stunning and as a selfconfessed
shopaholic it’s right up
my street. I wouldn’t say no to an
Aston Martin BD9 either!
Your role as Miss Northern Ireland
sees you travelling all over the
country, how do you cope with
driving long distances?
I rely a lot on my sat nav or
Google Maps. But if all else fails I
can always call my Dad, he knows
everything! Having said that, my
navigation skills have definitely
improved over the past year and
I’m much more confident because
I’ve been driving more. I could be
in Dublin, Kildare, Enniskillen or
Omagh all in one week but I love it
as it’s a great way to see parts of
the country I might not normally
have the opportunity to visit.
There are many misperceptions
about being a beauty queen, can
you dispel any of them with your
car maintenance skills - do you
know how to change a tyre, check
water and oil and can you
parallel park?
Yes to all. My Dad is a cattle
farmer so my brother, sister and I
were all very hands on helping him
around the farm. We drove quads,
scramblers and tractors and as my
Dad is always conscious of safety
he made sure we were confident
and well prepared to work with any
vehicle, so he taught us all the
basics.
What do you enjoy most about
driving?
I love the independence it gives
me. Being able to drive means you
can go wherever you need to
whenever you like. Living in the
country that’s even more important
as public transport isn’t as regular
and I hate having to depend on
other people for a lift.
What are your pet hates about
other drivers?
I get really annoyed when people
don’t use their indicators. It’s such
a basic thing but so many people
just don’t use them or use them at
the last minute which isn’t much
better.
What’s your advice for anyone
starting out on the road after
passing their test and getting their
first car?
Take it easy. Slow and steady wins
the race so just give yourself
plenty of time to get from A to
B. If you’re a very nervous
driver make use of a friend or
family member who is a calm
and experienced driver and
ask them to accompany you
for a while until you gain
more confidence. It’s
important to ask the right
person though. Having
another nervous driver, no
matter how experienced,
will probably just make
you worse.
What do you think the biggest
challenges are for young drivers?
I think it’s hard to shed the image
that all young drivers are boy
racers. The cost of getting on the
road for the first time can also be
an obstacle for young drivers due
to insurance, fuel costs on top of
the cost of the actual car, but I
think it’s worth it and it gets easier
as each year passes.
“If you don’t pass first time don’t worry, you will have learnt
from each experience and it will make you a better driver. “
page # 61