Model turned author and broadcaster Roz Purcell is in a sweet spot in her life: happy professionally and personally. The creator of the Hike Life talks to Janice Buter about overcoming obstacles, and why she thrives when stressed.

She’s discussing one of her dogs with a colleague (she has two pups, Myla and Wilko) and how she occasionally brings him into work. Sadly, he’s not here today.

She’s a natural beauty, dressed in a baggy jumper that has said dog’s hair on it, no make-up, but she still stands out in a room. Once a model and former Miss Ireland who competed in Miss Universe in 2010, Roz’s life now is a long way from catwalks, try-ons and the scrutiny that comes with the world of modelling.

In the last ten years, she’s carved out a successful career as a blogger, content creator, author of five books, as well as broadcaster and entrepreneur.

She’s getting used to her new radio slot. Since February of last year, Roz and long-term 2FM stalwart Emma Power, have kept the country company in the noon to 3pm slot at the weekends, having taken over from Dave Fanning.

At the end of October, they jumped into the drivetime show from 3-6pm; following the departure of the Two Johnnies back in May. "We’re doing it until Christmas," she says. "It’s been nice having my weekends off. Well, I say off, but I’m never fully off," she laughs. "I loved our weekend slot, and I felt we had built up a strong listenership. Our numbers were fantastic, and it felt like we had our own little community there. So, it’s been sad stepping away from that for a while, it’s bittersweet."

Would she be keen for the weekday show to become a permanent thing or is she happy to go back to weekends? "You want to do what’s right by the listener, so I think it’s been right to try out a lot of people in that slot and to see what the listener likes. I’m happy to go where the listener wants me. I’m just that type of person; I never want to be somewhere I’m not wanted," she answers diplomatically.

"In this industry, I think a lot of people have to be cut-throat because there’s only so many slots, but I’m just not built like that. I’m really competitive in sport but when it comes to work, if I’m up for the same job as one of my friends, I’m not going to be competitive with them, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’m definitely finding my 30s are way more relaxed and content," she says.

"I think it’s because I came from the modelling world where it’s super competitive and I’ve had to knock that side out of me in order to be happy and content. I don’t need to push someone under the bus to succeed."

The modelling world took a toll on Roz. She has spoken in the past about struggling with an eating disorder during those years and the damaging effects it had on her body and personality.

"I look back at those years and how much pressure it put on me and my body. It’s like I was a different person. I was so miserable and hungry all the time; and tired because I was training so much. I never thought I was good enough and I really put myself down. I went for help for years, but I didn’t want help because I didn’t know who I was without the eating disorder. It wasn’t until I was about 27 that I found a way back to myself," she says honestly of that time.

Having come out the other side of that period of her life and found a healthy approach to life, she’s grateful, however, for the opportunities she got after her modelling career came to an end.

"I’m so far away from modelling now, but it did give me the platform to do what I’m doing today and I did enjoy parts of it. But I was not physically built to be a model so I really had to punish my body to fit into what they wanted back then. It wasn’t sustainable for me at all."

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The great outdoors has always played a big part in Roz’s life; growing up on a farm in Co Tipperary with her sisters Rebecca and Rachel. She would get lost in the fields and forests around her. "We had such freedom. I’m so comfortable in the outdoors," she says.

It’s a part of her life that she’s now been able to bring into her career with Hike Life, documented on social media and not one, but two, Hike Life books, the second of which has recently been released. These handsome publications (with photos by Purcell and others), was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award. The books detail her 100 favourite hikes in the 32 counties, broken into two books. They have been in the making for a couple of years and have consumed her time.

"I’ve come off the back of 3½ years of doing these two books," she says. "I’m so happy they’re done and I’m so proud of the quality of them. I’m notorious for starting things and not finishing them, so this was a big achievement for me," she laughs.

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Before her Hike Life books, she had three cookbooks. "I’ve always been someone who goes with the flow, but I can’t believe I’ve managed to achieve this much, especially with my books," she says.

Roz has dedicated this second Hike Life book to her Auntie Mame (Aunt Mary) who passed away just as the first book was being published. She instilled Roz’s love of baking and kept her and her sisters entertained at the weekends.

"She was a huge part of our lives growing up. She’d come and visit us and take us off for walks; we’d head up Slievenamon or she’d teach us how to cook and bake. She passed away just as the first book was coming out and that was a really hard time for me. She was so proud of me doing the book," she recalls.

The family recently celebrated a happy event; the wedding of Roz’s sister Rachel, who moved back to their home country during the pandemic to set up her business, Fetch Coffee. She has also just celebrated five years in remission from chronic myeloid leukemia; happy news all round. "It was a small wedding of about 45 people, and it was just lovely. They got a beautiful autumn day," says Roz. "She’s doing amazing now. It’s such great news," she adds of her sister’s health.

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Speaking of weddings, Roz got engaged to long-term boyfriend Zach Desmond in summer 2023. He proposed on the Cliffs of Moher and while her schedule has been hectic with completing the books and her radio work, she’s determined to focus on wedding planning soon.

"I’ve nothing planned, I’m awful," she laughs. "It’s just time. I’ve go to sit down and look at venues and I get overwhelmed. Maybe I need to get a wedding planner. We’d like something small enough and in Ireland. I love Ireland as a wedding destination."

Although she insists she can be a bit scatty, Roz says that when she’s working on something, she’s very detail-oriented. "I think that’s what's putting me off planning the wedding, I know I’ll get consumed by it," she laughs.

"I love stress," she laughs. "I get more done when I’m stressed. I’m driven by it. If I have time off, I find it hard to switch off because I’m used to doing ten million things."

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As if she hasn’t enough on her plate, Roz bought a 12-acre forest last year near her family home in Tipperary. Her plan is to rejuvenate it and use the woodlands to educate people on the importance of preserving trees.

"It was going for sale up by Slievenamon mountain, near our family home. It was a forest plantation coming to the end of its rotation. It’s a beautiful forest, one I would have spent time in as a kid, so when I heard it was being sold, I wanted to try and save it and not see it cut down, so I bought it," she explains.
"It’s non-native conifers and the ground is very acidic, so I’ll be replanting with native trees and doing some treatment to the ground. It’s actually a lot of work, a big project," she laughs. "I want to show people the effects of tree farming in Ireland because it’s not talked about."

It’s clear that she has a great and abiding love of the Irish landscape and the beauty that we often take for granted. Does she have a favourite hike or place she likes to escape to?

"The Coomloughra horseshoe loop in Kerry," she answers. "It’s an experience and a half. It’s tough though, so you’d need a mountain leader, but I love it, I get such a buzz doing it. We’re really lucky with what’s on our doorstep here. You can go for a nice 5km hike and get a lot of bang for your buck with the scenery. I’m focused on getting Ireland to be a big hiking destination for the rest of the world."

That said, she says she’s done with hiking books for the moment and it’s onto new adventures for Roz.
"I’m done with them but I’ll keep on hiking, get the forest done, get this wedding done: sure, absolutely plenty to stress me out!"

The Hike Life – 50 More to Explore by Roz Purcell (Black & White publishing)