Judy Fitzgerald was a popular professional fitness model, registered nurse, and fitness teacher. Her most prominent accomplishment was winning the coveted Miss Bikini Ireland model search in 2014.
Judy energetically represented Ireland at the world championships in Cancun, Mexico after her victory. In addition to her success as a model, Judy’s career included crucial duties as a front-line nurse and midwife.
She graduated from University College Cork with a Nursing degree and received a master’s in Midwifery at the University of Limerick. Even during the challenging Covid-19 outbreak, Judy kept up her front-line midwifery work while also pursuing her interest in the fitness modelling industry.
Judy Fitzgerald obituary
She passed away unexpectedly, with colleagues and friends rushing to social media to pay tribute to her.
Venera Tabakin, a fashion designer, posted a string of photos of them together and wrote: “RIP Judy Fitzgerald, my little model and friend, Miss Bikini Ireland and Celebrity of Ireland,” whilst actress Jenny Dixon and her husband Tom Neville added: “So so sad to learn of Judy’s passing. She will be missed by all very much. Our sincerest sympathy to the Fitzgerald family and friends.”
Friends led tributes online, with one penning: “Rest in peace Judy,” whilst another added: “A beautiful soul, may she Rest In Peace”. One friend described her as a “kind, beautiful person, a girl that would light up a room with her smile”.
A notice announcing her passing read: “Judy Fitzgerald passed away unexpectedly on 27th May 2023. Sadly missed by her heartbroken parents Liam and Imelda, sister Lucy, brother William, brother-in-law Pedro.”
When was Judy Fitzgerald on First Dates?
When she was 31 years old, Judy Fitzgerald participated in First Dates Ireland’s season 8 episode 11, which aired in March of this year.
Aaron, a 33-year-old Dubliner who rated himself a 9.9 out of 10, joined her. When she asked him if he was worried, he said that he was, then casually added that he hadn’t anticipated how “gorgeous” his date would be. But when he set eyes on Judy, he was almost speechless.
Aaron gave Judy a rose before they left the First Dates Ireland Coda Restaurant, but he was unable to get the model out on another date.
She remarked that although she had liked her date and thought Aaron was a “gent,” she didn’t want to see him romantically again. On March 16, 2023, the program debuted on the Irish channel RTE Two. Unfortunately, viewers in the UK cannot access the episode.
