Be Like SYLWIA

Growing up immersed in the beauty industry alongside her successful mother, Sylwia developed an artistic eye early, mastering lash and nail art by age 17. But her story is about much more than creative talent; it is a profound testament to resilience.

Despite struggling with anxiety for years, she faced her fears head-on, stepping onto the Cork runway for the very first time and walking away not only with a crown and trophy, but with a newfound sense of euphoria.

Today, she balances life as a devoted wife, mother, beauty professional, and rising model with unwavering grace, proving that true strength lies in moving forward even when you are afraid.

Beyond the runway, she is channeling her personal experiences into a powerful mission to advocate for better mental health resources in secondary schools.

Preparing now for the Mrs. Ireland pageants in October, she is dedicated to changing how youth and educators view vulnerability, urging adults to look past surface behaviors and support students who are struggling in silence.

For anyone sitting at home paralyzed by self-doubt, her journey is a beacon of hope, showing that asking for help and confronting discomfort can completely rewire your mindset and turn childhood dreams into reality.

In Her Own Words:

Honouring Your Roots

Growing up working alongside your mom at Vashka Beauty and winning lash championships by age 17 takes immense dedication. How did those early years in the salon shape your artistic eye and your confidence as an entrepreneur?

Growing up with a mom who was a very successful and a talented business owner has made me a lot more open minded about achieving my goals. I had the opportunity to see the inside operation of a business and also working in it which helped me understand what it means to be an entrepreneur.

From a young age I was in love with everything beauty so my mum being in the industry herself definitely boosted my confidence having her by my side guiding me along the way and teaching me everything there was to know. I was always doing artsy things at home and did art in school also , I loved to draw a lot especially , so I found being a nail and lash artist was a smooth transition for me and I enjoyed working.

Turning Points & Bravery

You’ve spoken so powerfully about stepping onto the Cork runway despite feeling the weight of anxiety. Can you take us back to that exact moment right before your first walk—what kept you moving forward when every instinct told you to walk away?

Absolutely , Honestly the girls that walked along side me were amazing and we were all doing it together. Backstage there was no rivalry , we were a team and supported each other. When I was waiting backstage for my turn to walk my heart was pounding but it’s the girls comforting words that made me snap out of it. When it was my turn to walk out and I saw the crowd cheering it lit my spirits and I loved every second after that.

The Shift in Perspective

Winning a trophy and a crown at your very first runway show is incredible! What did it feel like in that moment when you realized that stepping into your fear had unlocked something you genuinely loved?

Going into the show I genuinely believed there is no way I would win. How could I ? I have never walked on a runway before. All I knew was that it is something I dreamt of doing since i was a child, I would see beautiful women on the Tv walking the runway and moving gracefully, I wanted to be like them.

I grew up struggling with Anxiety and I never chased my dreams because they seemed big and scary. I am so proud of myself for not giving up on myself and doing it despite being afraid.

When my name was as announced as a winner , the only word I can use to describe the feeling is euphoria.

Embracing the Pageant Stage

With the Ireland pageants coming up in October, you’re continuing to embrace new challenges. How has preparing for this next stage shifted the way you view your own potential?

Anxiety is something that always lingers , and the journey to getting better involves putting yourself into those uncomfortable and scary situations to teach your mind that they are in fact not as scary as we believed them to be. I am continuing to challenge myself by entering the Ireland pageants in the Mrs Ireland category, I am very excited to participate in the event and I am definitely a lot more confident now than I was before the Cork Runway.

Redefining Strength

Mental health struggles can often feel like an invisible barrier, yet you’ve proven that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s moving forward anyway. What does true strength look like to you today?

Strength has a lot of meaning to me, sometimes it’s about walking away from something that is in the way of your happiness, other times like for myself it means taking on challenges head on in order to discover yourself along the way.

There are so many who struggle with mental health , our friends and colleagues who we have no idea about what they’re going through. This is why I think this topic is so important to talk about , even when I was growing up this topic was taboo and I felt there was something wrong with me , it seemed only I had these feelings because they weren’t spoken about. I don’t want anyone to else feel that way.

Advocating for the Next Generation

You’ve shared a deeply personal goal of wanting to bring better mental health resources and awareness into secondary schools. If you could sit down with educators today, what is the most important thing you'd want them to understand about their students' voices?

Growing up I felt the school system looked down on students who struggled. I would like educators to understand one thing. If a child is “troublesome” or very quiet for example when they are asked a question on the spot.

It doesn’t mean that they are trying to be disrespectful, young adults are going through a lot of changes. They are figuring out who they are and what they want to be all while trying to fit in. It’s a very important part of everyone’s life , one that shapes them into the adult they will be in the future.

That’s why I want to advocate for better resources for students who would like to talk to someone. And I would like the educators to be more mindful and more gentle with the students, especially the "troublesome" ones because 9 times out of 10 these are the students who are struggling and don’t know how to get help.

Inspiring Others Who Struggle in Silence

For someone reading your feature right now who is sitting at home, feeling paralyzed by self-doubt or anxiety, and dreaming of a life they’re too afraid to chase—what would you say to them?

You have probably heard this phrase before "it gets better"! I used to hear this all the time and honestly, it annoyed me. I used to be that person who couldn’t go into any social setting without having a panic attack.

I always thought to myself, how can it possibly get better if that’s how I feel trying to do the most basic things feeling how I feel. There was one specific day that made me snap and I told myself I can’t do this anymore I can’t keep feeling this way.

It’s ok to ask for help when you need it. Therapy can feel overwhelming at first and for me after the first few sessions I didn’t feel better. In fact it almost felt worse because I was so much in my head but it helped me understand what about my mindset needed to change in order to get better.

Alongside medication and therapy I started to get better. It never took the anxiety away fully but it gave me tools to start over and rewire my mind into realizing not everything is a threat.

We all have dreams or things we wanted to try. All I can say is if it feels impossible it’s ok to ask for help and everything else will fall into place.

Balancing Roles with Grace

As a devoted mother, a wife, a beauty professional, a model, and now a pageant contestant, you wear so many hats. How do you find balance, and where do you draw your daily energy from?

It’s definitely not easy but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my husband. When I need a break, my partner is always there for me. He is an amazing father and husband and we have been together for 10 years now. Having someone who supports you is very important especially when juggling so many things. I honestly owe a lot of my success to my partner.

Looking Forward

Now that you’ve given yourself the chance to truly shine, what is the ultimate vision you have for your journey, and what legacy do you hope to leave for your child and the youth you advocate for?

With my newly found voice and achievements I hope to get more visibility to advocate for all children and youth who are struggling or simply needing help finding themselves. I hope that I can convince the schools to provide more support for our future generations and give them the best possible chance to be who they truly want to be and do so proudly and with confidence.

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