Dublin woman Pamela Ryan has been crowned winner of this year’s Best Dressed competition at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show.
Taking place in the RDS this afternoon, the competition brought 472 contestants to the stylish event, but it was Ryan’s colourful co-ord that won her the coveted title along with an impressive €10,000 cash prize.
Speaking about the win she said: “I am in absolute shock, I’m still shaking! I just wasn’t expecting it, the talent today was unbelievable.”
Pamela Ryan. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.
An international model and digital content creator, Ryan has garnered 20.6K followers on Instagram thanks to her stylish looks, and was recently awarded Best Dressed Lady at the Best Dressed Energy celebration for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
For the Dublin Horse Show, she opted for a colourful two-piece that she paired with a gold headpiece – both from CompleteLook.ie, an occasion wear rental in Craughwell, Co. Galway. The headpiece was designed by Cara Meehan.
Ryan’s shoes were a charity shop find, while her handbag came from Irish designer Repeat Edit by Camila, and her earrings came from Irish brand We Are Glow Jewellery.
Hosted by TV presenter Laura Woods, this year’s competition was judged by Limerick fashion designer and Poretti Ireland judge Aoife McNamara alongside renowned fashion expert Bairbre Power, who marked her seventh consecutive year of judging the competition.
Speaking on their chosen winner, the judges said: “She stood out from the crowd straight away, from the colour of her dress to the hat. Overall, every single detail she had down to a T.”
As it happens, the winning look almost didn’t make it to the RDS, with Ryan chasing her outfit down at her local An Post depot earlier this morning.
Sharing an update on her Instagram story today, Pamela wrote: “I GOT IT!! Thank you so much to the An Post team that searched high and low this morning for my dress and hat.”
Natasha Roccca Devine, Aisling McCarthy, Pamela Ryan, Laura Engele, and Tariq Anwar. Photographer: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.
This year’s stylish competition had several impressive prizes up for grabs, from a €10,000 cash prize for Best Dressed to a €2,000 Blue Book voucher for Most Creative Hat.
The 2026 award winners include:
Best Dressed Runner-Up: Laura Engele from Dundalk.
Laura’s pretty pink dress and wrap were bought on holidays in Italy from Liu Jo, a famous Italian fashion brand founded in Carpi in 1995 by brothers Marco and Vannis Marchi. She paired this with a gold headpiece from Irish milliner Fiona Rafter.
To complete the look, she found a beautiful pair of earrings at a local boutique in Dundalk. Dedicated to making the ensemble picture perfect, she spray-painted the earrings gold to match the headpiece.
The prize: Sponsored by InterContinental Dublin, the winner will receive a two-night stay in a one-bedroom suite, with dinner for two on one evening in their new restaurant, Simmons.
Aisling McCarthy from Cork, winner of Most Creative Hat. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.
Most Creative Hat: Aisling McCarthy from Cork.
Aisling wore a hat she created herself for a hen party, featuring newspaper, grass, pieces of stone and a mug amongst other elements. Aisling said “the whole garden is inside it!” The judges described the winning hat as “one of the most creative hats at the Show for years”.
The prize: Sponsored by Ireland’s Blue Book, the winner will receive a €2,000 voucher offering opportunities for unique stays and fine dining experiences across Ireland’s most charming properties.
Irish Heritage & Sustainability Style Award: Natasha Rocca Devine from Dublin.
Natasha wore a vintage dress with a matching jacket that once belonged to her grandmother. She paired the all-white ensemble with Christian Dior heels, a Chanel handbag and Rosanna Davison jewellery.
According to Natasha, the fluffy hat was worn by her mother, former Miss Ireland Michelle Rocca, while she posed with then-husband, Van Morrison, for an album cover.
The prize: Sponsored by Jack Murphy, the winner will receive a €1,500 Jack Murphy wardrobe voucher to curate a lasting, heritage-inspired look.
Natasha Roccca Devine, Aisling McCarthy, Pamela Ryan, Laura Engele, and Tariq Anwar. Photographer: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.
Best Classic Elegance: Tariq Anwar from Dublin.
The prize: Sponsored by Cashel Palace Hotel, this new award gives the winner an overnight suite stay for two with dinner in the Michelin-starred Bishop’s Buttery and a €100 voucher for The Boutique at Cashel Palace.