Georgina Heffernan caught up with 28-year-old hunk Barry Gouldsbury, Mr Gay Ireland, to find out what makes him tick.
GH: You have an incredible body – how do you keep in such good shape?
BG: I’m a gymnast, so I train in gymnastics three times a week. I also got to the gym to work out five times a week, so I suppose that you could say that I’m a total gym bunny! I’m also very conscious about what I eat and I don’t consume a ton of carbs, instead, I’ll try to eat a lot of vegtables and fruit and stick to lean meats like chicken. Like most people, I enjoy the occasional takeaway with all the trimmings – but I’ll make sure that I work off the extra calories the next day at the gym.
GH: Do you have any male grooming tips or products that you swear by?
BG: I always make sure that I wear a daily SPF, because it protects against sun damage and premature ageing. I use Lancôme Men and it’s an amazing product because it moisturizes your skin without making it too oily – no one likes a greasy face! If I’ve overindulged a bit, I love to go to the sauna for a good detox; it’s also a great way to relax. I don’t smoke and I think that’s made a huge difference to the quality of my skin. I can spot a smoker a mile away, because their skin really looks the worse for it.
GH: Describe your own personal style?
BG: Because I’m at the gym so much, I wear a lot of sportswear but when it comes to casual style I prefer a trendier look. I love fashion brands like Diesel because they’re bang on trend and emphasise a sporty physique. I like things that fit quite well and show off my body.
GH: What’s the worst fashion mistake that you’ve ever made?
BG: Oh God! I even cringe now when I think about it. When I was 21 I went to a friend’s birthday party and I decided to wear a really tight spandex t shirt. Just before I headed out the door, I got this inspired idea to slash the back of it a few times, because I thought that it would look kind of cool. Once I arrived at the party, everyone was staring at me but for all the wrong reasons. I’d slashed the back of the t-shirt so many times that it was almost backless. If the fashion police had been around that night they would have arrested me there and then. Talk about a crime against fashion!
GH: What do you think of Irish guys style?
BG: These days they’re going for a much trendier look and they’re not afraid to use accessories to create their own unique style. Irish guys are wearing sunglasses, trilby hats, scarves and even bracelets when they go out and they’re creating a whole look head to toe. It’s great to see them, finally, taking a few risks with fashion. I remember the first time I wore a man bag all of my friends laughed at me saying “That’s so gay.” Now they all have one.
GH: What’s your favourite city to shop in?
BG: Without a doubt, New York, I just love it; it’s such an incredible city. I love Abercrombie & Fitch and all of the stores such as Macys. London is also a great city to shop in and, when I’m there, I’ll usually head straight to Selfridges as they’ve an amazing selection of designer labels – the last time I was there I picked up an incredible D&G jacket for £250.
GH: What was the most exciting thing about winning Mr Gay Ireland?
BG: It was one of the best moments of my life. My Mum was there and so was my boyfriend at the time and all of my friends. I remember standing on the stage and looking down at my feet thinking “Mmmm should have had a pedicure” but then they called out my name I almost died of shock. I’d never expected to win. My Mum jumped over the railings and ran onto the stage and all of my friends were screaming and cheering. It was an incredible experience. I still get quite emotional thinking about it.
GH: What’s next for you?
BG: At the moment, I’m taking every day as it comes. I used to be a dreadful worrier and I’d always be worrying about the future but now I’m much more relaxed about things. My motto is “What’s for you won’t pass you by”. I’m a very motivated person and I’m determined to make the most of all opportunities that come my way. I’ve been approached by a few agencies who have offered me modeling work so that’s something I’m quite excited by.
