The Shape I’m In: Claire Tracey
And she seems to have found her calling along the way. “Throw me in front of the camera and I’ll be happy out,” she says. “I think entertaining people is what I want to do.”
In particular it’s her role as a TV presenter that has caught her imagination. “I’ve really blossomed with it. I’m really, really happy with it. I haven’t been this happy in so long.”
For all her natural ease in front of the camera, she hates watching herself on the box. “I do a lot of work on TV3’s Exposé, but I’ll never watch myself on television. I just want to laugh at myself. I’m such a messer. I don’t take myself seriously.”
Aged 24 and in a new relationship, it took her a while to find her vocation. She went to IADT to do business and entrepreneurship but dropped out. “I hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do. I wanted to into TV and film but my mam told me not to, that I had to get a proper career.So that didn’t last — I had my mind made up.”
Two years ago, the 1.8m beauty got a notion and walked into a modelling agency, looking for work.
“I was in this whole phase of getting over my fears and conquering life and getting more confidence. Kind of feeling the fear and doing it anyway.” She was booked immediately.
But it hasn’t been all lights, cameras and action — there have been bleak days. “I suffer with a bit of mental health myself,” she says.
“I’ve lived with depression for a very long time. I’m trying to take responsibility for it. I’m still on the path of discovery.”
Looking to keep her work-life balance in check, she is currently taking some time out while in London. “You can keep on going with your life they way you are or you can take a couple of months out — really intensively — and then really enjoy the rest of it.”
The youngest of five children, she divides her time between her parents’ home in Co Wicklow and London, where she stays with her sister, who she refers to a a “feeder”.
All the fine dining is starting to show on her waistline. “Because I’ve no gym over here, it’s a nightmare. So I’m trying to hide from everyone at the moment! I’m a model but, you know what, I am just going to enjoy myself.”
- Tested on Humans concludes on December 14 at 9pm on RTÉ2.
I’m not as fit as I normally am or I’d like to be at the minute but I’m looking forward to regaining my fitness when I get back from London. Usually I go to the gym once a day — I like to lift weights.
I love salads and I try to eat unprocessed foods and cook from scratch.
Pigging out on Domino’s pizza and Hagen Dazs ice cream.
Watching documentaries on my phone. I love stuff about Egypt. I’m also doing a lot of research on Ayahuasca — a psychedelic medicinal herb used by tribes in the Amazon. It can cure depression and PTSD and the long-term studies on it are really good.
By getting reflexology or a massage.
I’d invite Liam Neeson, Will Ferrel, Richard Branson, the cast of Bridesmaids and Scott Eastwood for my sister.
I’m going to get back into good shape. I’d like to get rid of my acne spots.
I don’t have one.
On Wednesday night when an old friend rang.
I hate people lying to me — I’m an open book and am not one to judge.
I put everybody else’s needs before my own. I’d have a lot of compassion for others but can forget to look after my own needs.
I pray to god. I’m open-minded as well.
Hanging out with people who I can just have a good joke around with.
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