There is a new wave of Irish models about to take our runways by storm - Eoin Gavin shares the names to note for 2026.
Models are often the most overworked and underappreciated pillars of the fashion industry. They are the backbone of every campaign, show and moment of cultural impact. There are so many categories of models out there; we have our editorial or commercial champions, our catwalk mavens, the national and international crowd, and a lucky few that can encompass it all.
Ireland is currently booming in all creative genres, and fashion is no exception. As model Abigail Sexton puts it: “Simone Rocha and JW Anderson have shown that Irish identity can work on a global stage, and that confidence is spreading.”
When we talk about famous faces all six million of us could name, often overlooked are the Irish models we see in campaigns for homegrown brands every day. Among the most successful is Thalia Heffernan, whose career spans the globe, along with catwalk staples Sarah Morrissey and Yomiko Chen, and fashion campaign favourite Blaithnaid Doolan. As we start to usher in a new world of younger designers, brands, and creatives, we are also looking at a surge of new Irish models cropping up, including twins Sadbh and Cadhla O’Reilly gaining international recognition, Alice McGrath opening Dior Haute Couture 2024, and Emma-Rose Higgins moving from being scouted to landing a Burberry campaign in just months.
Then there are a host of new names that are being noted by fashion houses and brands alike, both at home and abroad. Say hello to Abigail Sexton, Charlotte Moloney-Wemaere, Liath Hannon, Sarah Sida and Sophie Tarzan; the Irish models set to make a serious impact.
In terms of quality and design, Ireland is absolutely on par. A Louise Kennedy gown wouldn’t feel out of place on a Paris runway.
Abigail Sexton, 21, Portmarnock
Raised in Portmarnock, Abigail Sexton’s path into fashion felt instinctive from an early age, picking out her own outfits without parental input, and studying the latest red carpet moments from the magazines her mother bought. Signed to Morgan the Agency at just 16, she has since become a familiar face on Irish runways, walking consistently for Brown Thomas and fronting campaigns for Louise Kennedy, Helen McAlinden and The Landskein.
In 2025, alongside her Politics and Economics studies at UCD, Abigail saw her international career bloom. “I started working in Paris and London,” she recalls. “Walking during Couture Fashion Week, as well as Paris and London Fashion Week and later, being signed with a Milan-based agency.”
Her highlights included walking for Roksanda and Tamara Ralph, an editorial for L’Officiel, an Armani campaign, closing Thom Browne’s Paris show, a moment she describes as “completely surreal,” and most recently, walking in the Gucci show alongside Alex Consani, Emily Ratajkowski and Amelia Gray.
On the difference between Ireland and international markets, she’s clear with her thoughts. “The biggest contrast is scale,” she explains. “It’s simply much larger internationally. In terms of quality and design, Ireland is absolutely on par. A Louise Kennedy gown wouldn’t feel out of place on a Paris runway.”
Looking towards 2026, her goal is to maintain a healthy work-life balance, ultimately focusing on longevity. “I want a career that lets me grow creatively and personally,” she says. “I have dreams of working with Vivienne Westwood and Chanel, and expanding into creative direction.”
Photography by Sarah Doyle. Morgan The Agency, @abigail.sex.
Charlotte Moloney-Wemaere, 25, Bray
Another model making a splash internationally is a veterinary graduate turned international model, Charlotte Moloney-Wemaere. “I didn’t grow up idolising models or the industry,” she explains. “I didn’t fit what I thought a model was supposed to be, so it stayed an idea.”
However, that didn’t last too long, as she was ultimately signed to an agency at 18 after a gig for her sister-in-law’s boutique got a press feature. While building her portfolio, she landed a breakthrough Brown Thomas campaign in 2021, describing it as “the point where imposter syndrome dropped and I felt like a ‘real’ model.”
Now signed with Irish agency Rós Model Management and based in London, her performance in the fashion film This Isn’t How I Pictured It earned her a leading actress nomination at the Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival. Describing the blend of fashion and film as a ‘natural crossover’, she has a passion for bringing screen energy to high fashion brands “I’m drawn to high-end, narrative-led campaigns,” she explains. “Especially brands like Maison Margiela and Miu Miu, where storytelling and character are central.”
Having just walked at Berlin Fashion Week, there is no doubt that we will be seeing her successfully branch across multiple media forms in 2026. “I say this all the time, for such a small country, Ireland is full of incredibly talented people,” she concludes. “Especially in fashion and film. It’s something I’m really proud to be part of.”
Charlotte photographed for IMAGE by Alex Sheridan, styled by Anne O’Shea. Rós Model Management, @charlotte.moloney.
For such a small country, Ireland is full of incredibly talented people.
Liath Hannon, 28, Dublin
In the vibrant settings of Irish boutique Om Diva, stood a statuesque Liath Hannon, who had the unfortunate task of signing out what I was pulling that day. From Dublin, I recognised her immediately as a muse for Irish designer Oran O’Reilly, A.K.A Oran Aurelio.
Scouted at 18 and signed with Not Another Intl, she says she was drawn to the fantasy of fashion, citing classic cinema and fashion icons Monica Bellucci and Sharon Tate as some of her early influences. She also heralds Tumblr as a reference point and a place where she found old runway shows and vintage shoots that gave her “a blueprint in designing the kind of person I wanted to be that I just couldn’t see in modern media.”
Much like Charlotte, Liath has a knack for blending the worlds of fashion and film. An example of this was the seamless transition of strutting in the DIFW Pellador show, wearing the coveted Roykini and then going on to play a leading role in critically acclaimed Irish short film Girls & Boys, as well as writing and performing in her one-woman show The Dolldrums. This year, on top of her modelling career, she hopes to adapt Valley of the Dolls for the stage, while also breaking into some more cisgender characters and universally mainstream roles, as a natural progression.
She is proud to be part of Ireland’s continually growing creative scene. “I think our country has modernised enough that designers can build a career and profile here,” she notes. “We still have a long way to go with regards to government support for artists, but what we lack in funding we more than make up for in talent.”
Photography by Cian Redmond. Sovran Carey, @liath.hannon.
Sophie Tarzan, 25, Dublin
With a background in dance and a striking presence, Sophie Tarzan has become a muse for Irish streetwear brands including Seeking Judy and Emporium Dublin. Learning the balance between performance and discipline, the past year has seen her walk for brands across Dublin Independent Fashion Week, while also becoming a familiar face within the social media sphere. A big believer in trusting the creative process, she is a perfect example of not needing to be signed to an agency to work within the modelling world.
Raised by parents who prioritised individuality over labels, she credits that mindset for her personal style. “They taught me that style is intentional and rooted in confidence,” she says.
Having worked with some major Irish brands, her next goal is to work with contemporary knitwear designer Hope Macauley. She also credits DIFW with Ireland’s rising international profile, creating a space for unique collaboration and creativity while providing emerging talent with a platform to shine.
Photography by Zoe Ardiff for Ditsy Bits, @sophie_tarzan.
We still have a long way to go with regards to government support for artists, but what we lack in funding we more than make up for in talent.
Sarah Sida, 21, Kilkenny
Fashion has been part of Sarah Sida’s world for as long as she can remember, even if she didn’t recognise it at the time. What began with watching Top Model and sketching designs as a child is now turning into something more serious. While balancing university studies and a part-time job, her modelling journey kicked off after designer Gemma Holden asked her to model some pieces in St Stephen’s Green.
Another example of not needing to be signed with an agency to be successful, 2025 saw Sarah being featured in You Magazine, working with acclaimed creative director and stylist Zeda, and walking in both Dublin Independent Fashion Week and Ireland Fashion Week.
Looking ahead, she has her sights set firmly on the international stage. She’s drawn to working with brands led by passionate creatives, naming Kash Beauty as a dream collaboration. “Keilidh’s work is amazing, and the range is unreal,” she says.
Ultimately looking to achieve supermodel status, she is inspired by trailblazers like Anok Yai, Adut Akech and Duckie Thot, with a particular fondness for Alek Wek, saying: “She didn’t want to be a gimmick, she wanted to make a real impact, and that’s something I connect with.” She’s motivated by models who’ve made real, lasting impact rather than being treated as trends, and that mindset continues to guide her ambitions.
Photography by Anastasiia Redko, @_sharasida_.
Featured photography by Cian Redmond.
Also Read
