In just a few weeks Irvinestown’s Shauna Goodwin has been crowned ‘Miss Fashionista’ at a Northern Ireland-wide pageant, participated in a Portadown fashion show, completed a modelling course and taken on the Impartial Reporter’s very own Lifestyle photoshoot. Not bad for an 18-year-old who up until recently had never stepped foot on a catwalk.

Shy and reserved, it was actually Shauna’s mother, Caroline, who put her forward for the Miss Winter Wonderland Competition in the Holiday Inn, Belfast, at the end of January.

And what a confidence boost.

Stepping out on to the catwalk for the first time in a cocktail dress, and then again in a formal gown, Shauna caught the attention of the judges, who awarded her the ‘Miss Fashionista’ title.

“I have never taken part in anything like that before,” said Shauna when she prepared to model for the Impartial Reporter’s Lifestyle section.

“It was exciting but I was very nervous. When I was just getting ready to go on -- that’s when I was most nervous.” Striking a pose in an orange blouse from Exhibit, shoes from Irregular Choice, white jeans from TopShop and a multi-coloured necklace from New Look, she puts some of the skills she has acquired from her modelling course with the NI School of Modelling to good use.

“I had never been on a catwalk until then so I couldn’t believe it when I won the crown and sash!” Last weekend, she and some of the other lucky winners from the pageant participated in a fashion show in Portadown, too.

“I’m really interested in pursuing modelling,” said Shauna, wearing a Virgos Lounge embellished cream dress and gold glitter court shoes.

But her main career aim is to own her own hair salon.

“I’m training to be a hairdresser at the minute at South West College,” she explained, “I work one day a week at Streaks Ahead in Dromore.” Besides this Shauna has the great pleasure of working for the one and only Joe Mahon at Mahon’s Hotel in her home town.

“Joe is great,” said said, modelling a pair of black cullottes, a black cropped top and yellow blazer all from Exhibit with shoes from New Look.

“You can always have a bit of craic with him.

“He was giving me stick about the colour of my hair at the weekend. (It has been dyed a greyish-blonde).

When she’s not working or studying, Shauna plays football for Irvinestown and also enjoys jive classes in the town.

Wearing her last outfit of the photoshoot, a checked shirt from New Look, jeans from Exhibit and red Converse, Shauna revealed her plans for the Summer.

“Me and the girls are hoping to go on holidays -- we haven’t picked anywhere yet, but we would all like to get away somewhere sunny!

“I’m going over to Liverpool on St Patrick’s weekend to see some of my friends who are studying over there.”