Carlow's Lauren joins forces with fellow influencer to host brand-new podcast

LAUREN Whelan, Carlow’s most influential twentysomething has just launched a new podcast that promises to be a deep dive into the world of influencers.

Lauren, who has almost two-million followers on TikTok and Instagram, has teamed up with another social media star, Miriam Mullins, to create their Under The Influencer podcast.

The brand-new podcast promises to lift the lid on the fabulous world of influencers.

Lauren (22) came to prominence as an influencer through TikTok, having started to make videos when she was just 16 years' old. During the Covid pandemic, she honed her video-making skills even more and took part in a so-called TikTok house in 2020, where she and other influencers were tasked with making content for the popular social media app.

Since then, the Carlow native has gone stellar and now ranks among the top influencers in Ireland, attending such high-profile events as Paris Fashion Week and promoting high-end brands, while also being a regular on VIP lists and celeb parties.

Lauren, who hails from Pollerton, is the daughter of Lesley Dowley and Padraig Whelan. After completing her leaving cert in Gaelcholáiste Cheatherlach, she opted to study media in SETU and was a keynote speaker when the college ran a summer course in how to become an influencer.

She won over a massive audience of young women through her 'Get ready with me' TikTok videos, where she gives tips and advice on make-up, hair and clothes.

Her friendly, relatable personality has brought her nearly two-million followers across TikTok and Instagram, making her one of the most-followed Irish influencers on TikTok. Lauren’s star quality and internet savvy on a global stage was recognised when she was runner-up for the Next Generation Award (under-30s) and nominated for the Instagram Star of the year at the 2023 InstaSTAR Awards.

Now, a podcast with fellow influencer Miriam is a natural progression in her career. Her bubbly and chatty character has garnered her over 2.2 million loyal followers on TikTok, who love her quintessential Gen Z content. Miriam also starred in the 2024 season of Dancing with the stars.

Lauren and Miriam became friends through social media, both at the top of the Irish influencer scene. Both young women have garnered great success individually, with 4.1 million followers between them across their platforms, their influence knows no bounds. The podcast gives the girls the perfect platform to display their amazing chemistry; whether they’re debating the latest trends, giving advice to each other through personal anecdotes or teaming up together to overcome a problem, the two spare no details and form the perfect duo. They share their stories of personal growth, experiences in the industry and behind-the-scenes gossip through their brilliant chemistry, resembling a big-sister/little-sister relationship of giving advice and counselling each other. Their first episode looked at the rising popularity of 'tweakments', where they tackle the subject of aesthetics and the rise in popularity of tweakments such as Botox and filler. With an ever-growing number of young girls accessing both surgical and non-surgical treatments, this is a topic Lauren and Miriam are keen to chat about.

Under the Influencer is available every Thursday on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.