Roz Purcell has discussed some of the most important issues of the moment, in an exclusive interview, published in the new issue of Hot Press (on sale Thursday November 10). And the views of the best-selling food writer and star of RTÉ’s Taste of Success programme will surely surprise a lot of people, as she discusses the new US President, Donald Trump, religion, abortion, the Government’s attempt to introduce the so-called Swedish model on sex work and many more hot topics besides.

In the interview, Purcell emerges as a strong advocate of the need to Repeal the 8th Amendment.
"I can understand the viewpoints on both sides,” she says on the wider issue of abortion. "At the end of the day, I’ve re-educated myself on both arguments and it’s something I’ve talked about – and I’ve decided I’m pro-choice.

"I haven’t spoken too much about it in interviews because I am afraid that my words will be taken out of context,” she adds. "It’s really hard. When you’re in the public eye, people feel like you shouldn’t have an opinion.”

She speaks emotionally about the fact that Irish women and girls are forced to go abroad if they decide that they need to have an abortion.

"If someone’s going to go do it, they’re going to do it,” she states, "but have a facility here for them, so they don’t have to make that long journey by themselves."

“It is a fascinating, in-depth interview,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes says. “I think people will feel that they know a whole lot more about Roz Purcell – who she is; the unique personal journey she has taken on the way to becoming one of the best known faces in Irish public life; and the strong opinions she holds on issues to do with personal freedom and individual choice. I think Irish people will find a lot to relate to and respect in the interview – not just in the views she espouses, but also in the sense of humour with which she puts them across.”

Roz is also outspoken on the Government’s attempt to introduce a new law that would criminalise the client when sex is paid for.
"So, only the man gets arrested and the woman doesn’t?” she asks. "It’s unfair that the person handing over the cash would be the one that’s arrested!"
Separate from the issue of basic fairness, she says that does not believe that the proposed new law will work.
"People are still going to do it,” she states. “They’re just going do it in more dangerous circumstances. It will just drive it completely underground and make it way more dangerous for everyone involved."
Roz is asked by Hot Press interviewer Jason O’Toole about the fact that she tweeted in 2010 that she hoped Donald Trump would run for the Presidency...
"I’m not going, ‘I really, really, really regret that!’ Like, who would have thought he was actually going to run for president?” she says... “When I heard he first he running for president I didn’t think it was serious (laughs). But then, when he was talking about his political views and immigration and not even believing in global warming: you’re just like, ‘How is someone so removed from reality that they can come out with these statements?’"
The former Miss Universe Ireland goes on to talk about how living in the public eye affects personal relationships; offers advice to Enda Kenny about government priorities; gives her considered views on religion and the existence of God; discusses in detail the trials and tribulations of the modelling world and her own struggles with dieting and body image; reveals her thoughts on drugs – and names the best restaurant in Ireland…
There’s all of that and a whole lot more, in what is a classic Hot Press interview.

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