Our Interview with AMANDA BRUNKER
Former Miss Ireland, model, journalist, TV presenter, party girl, best-selling author and now mum of two, Amanda Brunker, is certainly one busy lady. The glamorous, outspoken, bombshell has never been afraid to speak her mind and indeed hails herself as an ‘open book’ when it comes to being honest about her life and forward with her opinions. Indeed it is this frankness, coupled with her hugely self-confident and sassy personality that made her the ideal candidate as social diarist for The Sunday World. But it is her latest achievement as a best-selling novelist that has really seen her career soar skyward. Her novel, ‘Champagne Kisses’, (published by Transworld Ireland) has been described as fresh, raunchy and fun. Launched in Dublin’s stylish Renards nightclub last year, many of Irelands best known celebrities turned out to wish Amanda the best, including Bono, Louis Walsh, Blathnaid ni Chofaigh, Cairan Sweeney, Karen Koster and Glenda Gilson to name but a few. The book rapidly found its place at the top of the best sellers list in Ireland and is now being snapped up by countries around the world. More recently, Amanda became the face of Life2Good’s slimming product range ‘Slender Xcellerate’ after using the product herself to regain the figure she felt she had lost.
We were thrilled to catch up with Amanda to find out how she is coping with the success of her book, motherhood and losing the weight.
Q: Amanda, congratulations on all your recent achievements and successes including being a mom, a best selling novelist and a journalist all at the same time. How are you managing to juggle it all?
A: The juggle is a struggle, but as the saying goes, if you want something done... ask a busy person! To be honest I'm very lucky. I've two very doting grandmothers who fight over the two boys, and their support enables me to work hard. Also after shifting the weight (over 4 stone) I have much more energy to tackle challenges. I have a great lust for life, more than I ever remember.
Q: What has been the absolute highlight for you over the past 12 months?
A: I don't want to sound nausiating, but I've had a terrific 12 months. Between my debut novel Champagne Kisses shooting to Number 1, being sold abroad in South Africa, New Zealand, and with news of Canada, Australia and UK to follow this summer, and also signing for a further two novels, I can't complain. But I must admit, being confident to strutt my stuff in a size 8 bikini (something I haven't done in about 10 years) has also got to be noted as a high light.
Q: Having won the Miss Ireland title in 1991, you have been in and out of the media circuit, as a model, party girl, journalist and TV presenter, since you were the tender age of 17. Is ‘being in the spotlight’ something you have always craved?
A: Actually not at all. And I don't blame anyone reading this to doubt my answer. But I really just fell into this career. I didn't sit my leaving, had no qualifications, so becoming a model was the only thing I didn't need a degree for. Everything else just followed. Though becoming an author was different. I planned, prepared and studied (on my own) to become an author for about three years before I sat down to write. I'm very competitive, so I wanted to do it well. Thankfully my patience paid off and even the critics loved my book. Which was the one thing, I never expected.
Q: You’ve led quite a wild and full lifestyle over the years, which, has been instrumental, in many ways, in paving your career path, including your position as columnist with the Sunday World and now as a novelist. How do you find things have changed for you, now that you are a ‘working mom’?
A: We're all on a journey. My life path happened to be a little more colourful than most. Obviously becoming a mother turns your world upside down. But it happened in a very positive way for me. I had partied hard, got bored of the Dublin social scene, and was ready to embrace such changes. Of course, I sometimes wish I could throw caution to the wind and just head off one afternoon and get drunk like in the old days. But I just couldn't do it. I'm a total control freak, and no one can take care of my kids as well as me. If I have to work late, I stress about everything from if they've been fed enough to have they been put to bed in warm enough clothes? It's ridiculous really, but I love the bones of them. I made them after all...
Q: You are looking absolutely amazing and you are putting your new svelte figure down to a weight loss regime that you underwent called ‘Slender Xcellerate’. Can you tell us how the regime went and how it affected you?
A: Yes, I have to say the Slender Xcellerate tablets helped transform my life - literally! I really feel ten years younger, and I love just being able to walk into any shop and just pick off clothes from the rails. Before my chest was too big and I found it really hard to buy tops. And as for jeans, I would have to buy whatever pairs in your size because I found very little selection.
I must say, that these tablets are not an over-night miracle though. It was a slowly-slowly process, but that's the magic. Because the weight came off gradually, the weight has stayed off. I've been this size since last summer now.
I found that combined with the Slender Pu-reah tea, I didn't feel so hungry. So instead of radically changing my diet, I reduced my portion sizes and now continue to eat less
Quick Fire Questions:
Q: Fashion wise, how would you describe your own personal style?
A : Gosh, I've never been a big follower of fashion. I stick to what suits me and that's normally very simple and plain clothes. You'd never see me in big patterns. A little black dress, or rock chick jeans and a simple t-shirt. With either you can't go wrong.
Q: Is there any particular person in Ireland that you would consider to be a ‘seriously stylish’ person?
A :Gavin Friday. He's one of the coolest people I know.
Q: What item (be it anything from lip gloss or your mobile phone) would you absolutely not leave the house without?
A: My keys....
Q: If you could buy one thing today – regardless of cost- what would it be?
A: I've never craved for material things. The only thing I'd like to buy is sleep... Something there's been very little of in my house over the last three years!
Q: What is your favourite thing to do to unwind?
A: Despite the title of my book Champagne Kisses (it was far from Champagne I was rared), I must admit my biggest weakness is beer. It doesn't happen often, but a can of Budweiser watching Tubridy on the telly, bliss...
For more information on 'Slender Xcellerate' - see www.lifes2good.ie
Below: Amanda after her slimming regime - in a pair of her old jeans.