From Watching America's Next Top Model to Chasing the Runway: Rachel McCormack's Fashion Journey Begins
Inspired by childhood dreams, Dublin-born model Rachel McCormack is turning her lifelong passion for fashion into a promising new chapter, embracing modelling, pageantry and the determination to build a future on her own terms.
For Rachel McCormack, the dream of becoming a model began long before she ever considered stepping onto a runway. Growing up in Dublin, Ireland, she spent countless hours watching fashion shows on television alongside her mother, captivated by the extraordinary designs, glamorous productions and models who brought each collection to life. Their favorite programme was America's Next Top Model, and for a young Rachel, Tyra Banks quickly became an inspiration.
What began as a childhood fascination has now developed into something much more personal. Today, McCormack is taking her first significant steps into the modelling industry, determined to transform the dreams she once watched on television into experiences of her own.
Her journey gained momentum when she became a finalist in Miss Bikini Ireland 2026, an achievement that helped introduce her to modelling and runway opportunities. The experience marked an important turning point, giving her the confidence to pursue an industry she had admired for much of her life.
Beyond pageantry, McCormack has also established a presence within the sporting entertainment world. After working as a ring girl for Extreme Boxing Promotions, she secured an ongoing role with West Coast Boxing Promotions, further developing her confidence and experience in front of live audiences.
Building a Future Beyond the Ordinary
Born and raised in Dublin, McCormack spent eight months living in Mallorca, Spain, in 2024, an experience that complemented her love of travel and meeting people from different backgrounds. She has since returned to Dublin, where she balances her developing modelling career with full-time office work in the healthcare sector.
For McCormack, maintaining these responsibilities while pursuing her ambitions reflects the determination behind her journey. She is not waiting for the perfect circumstances to begin building the future she wants.
Her perspective on life changed significantly in 2025, when she began considering what success, happiness and personal purpose truly meant to her. Rather than following a path simply because it was familiar, she decided to place greater importance on the opportunities and experiences that brought her fulfilment.
“My biggest passion in the world has always been modelling and achieving as much as I can so that I never have to look back or think ‘what if,’” she shares.
That philosophy has become the foundation of her ambitions, encouraging her to take opportunities, challenge herself and continue progressing even while balancing the demands of everyday life.
A Childhood Dream With International Ambitions
Looking ahead, McCormack hopes to expand her modelling career internationally, walking in runway shows around the world and representing designers whose creations once inspired her from afar.
The opportunity to wear extraordinary fashion, discover new destinations and collaborate with creative professionals is particularly meaningful to someone who grew up imagining herself on the other side of the television screen.
For McCormack, creativity is closely connected to independence. She describes the word create as taking control of her life, shaping her own future and making deliberate choices that bring her closer to the person she wants to become.
Although her professional modelling journey is still in its early stages, her motivation is rooted in something lasting: the desire to pursue the dreams that have accompanied her since childhood.
From watching Tyra Banks and the world's most memorable runway moments with her mother to beginning her own journey in fashion, Rachel McCormack is discovering that the dreams we grow up with can become the futures we choose to create.
Model: Rachel McCormack
Recognition: Miss Bikini Ireland 2026 Finalist
Instagram: @rachelmccormackx
Model Portfolio: @rachel.mc.model.portfolio