YOU have to admire Maksuda Akter from Malahide in Co Dublin.

She’s a pilot, a model, an actor, a mother-of-two expecting her third baby, and now she’s also the best dressed at the races.

Last Saturday at the Curragh Maksuda was chosen by judges Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian as the winner of the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Style Awards.

Arthur said: “Her outfit, which we didn’t know was from St Vincent de Paul, was so amazing. Also very angelic, very demure. And that’s proving to you it doesn’t matter who you are and what kind of shape of body you have. You can embrace fashion, and we fell in love with her.”

A delighted Maksuda, who is 39 weeks pregnant, explained that her look was very last-minute. “I bought my dress two days ago in a charity shop because I didn’t know how big I’m gonna be! My hat is from Fiona Rafter, she designed it.”

It was Maksuda’s first time at the Curragh and she was accompanied by her son and daughter who are aged 13 and 14. She won €5,000, a luxurious stay at Barberstown Castle, and a VIP trip to the Curragh for Irish Champions Festival.

Struggle

Born in Bangladesh, Maksuda was sent to Ireland to start a new life in 2003 by her mother. She never saw her parents again and was raised by the Irish Bangladeshi community. When she became a single mother of two 10 years ago her life was a struggle. But her life turned around when she became a pilot in 2013 and then applied to enter the Miss Ireland competition in 2014, which she won. She won the Ms Earth pageant in 2015 and was named UK Top Model in 2017.