Amanda Brunker (born 12 June 1974) is an Irish novelist, journalist and beauty pageant titleholder. She is columnist for the Irish Sunday World tabloid newspaper, [1] She also won Miss Ireland 1991.
Brunker grew up in a Church of Ireland Protestant family in Finglas. [2] After attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School she turned to modelling, entering and winning the Miss Ireland competition in 1991 when she was 17 years old. [3]
She has continued modelling, acted in the film Head Rush, [4] had a cameo role on the former Irish soap Glenroe, been a nightclub hostess and presented her own late night TV show The Dinner Party. [5]
She also performed at Oxegen 2011. [6] The decision to give her a prominent slot at the music festival ahead of artists who had released music, as well as her performance on the day, was widely criticised in the music press. [7] [8] [9]
Brunker declined on multiple offers from record companies to concentrate on her FETAC 4 course [ citation needed].
She was a judge on the third and final season of the All Ireland Talent Show, replacing Boyzone's Shane Lynch as the Dublin judge.
She published her first novel, entitled Champagne Kisses, [10] on 25 June 2008, followed in June 2009 by a sequel, Champagne Babes.
She participated in season 4 of Celebrity Bainisteoir, managing Aughrim GAA Club, Wicklow. [11]