Niamh Marie Redmond (born 1976 or 1977) is an Irish former model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Ireland 1996.^[1]

Born to parents Ronald and Orla,^[2] 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.^[3][4]

Although her win qualified her to represent the country at Miss Universe 1997,^[5] 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.^[6][7] 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.^[8] Redmond had previously been a contestant at Miss World 1996 where she was a favourite,^[9] 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.^[10]

As a model, Redmond was lined to promote a range of summer clothing for Lee Jeans alongside Fair City actor Peter Warnock,^[11] but came under fire when she appeared in a contraceptives commercial shortly after being crowned. Redmond graduated with a degree in Finance, and worked in IT after her reign.^[12][13]

She is married to former Ireland rugby player and businessman Aidan McCullen. She has two sons.^[14]

References